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Indian Express
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
4 ‘illegal' mazars demolished in forest area in Bahraich district
The state forest department, in an operation with the Bahraich district administration and the district police, demolished four old mazars (shrines) located in the Murthia Range of the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, citing 'illegal construction on forest land.' Forest department officers said that the shrines were situated within a protected area and classified them as 'encroachments'. Among the four demolished shrines was the Dargah of Hazrat Sayyed Mohammad Hashim Ali Shah, also known as Lakkad Shah Baba, where fairs had been regularly organised in the past. Recently, the forest department denied permission for the fair there, following which the shrine management committee raised an objection. Forest officers said that permission was denied because the proposed fair site falls within the core area of the forest, where public access is 'strictly prohibited'. The other three shrines — Bhavar Shah, Chaman Shah, and Shahenshah — which were demolished were located in the range of around half-a-kilometre. The demolition began on Sunday night and continued until Monday morning. On Sunday night, a large-scale operation was launched by the forest department with support from the local police and administration. Heavy police presence, including personnel from the Provincial Armed Constabulary, was deployed at the site. Public access was restricted, and bulldozers were used to demolish all four shrines. Forest officers said that access to the area was limited due to the risk of wildlife attacks. Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, B Shivshankar said the forest court had declared the structures as 'encroachments on forest land'. Forest staff, Special Tiger Protection Force, local police, and Provincial Armed Constabulary have been deployed at the site, he said. Asked why mediapersons were kept off the site, Shivshankar said, 'The area falls in a jungle zone where the presence of wild animals could lead to human-wildlife conflict, hence access was restricted.' District Magistrate Monika Rani, however, directed that mediapersons may be allowed limited access to the site under the forest officials' supervision. According to the forest department, in response to the notice issued by the forest department, the shrine committee objected and submitted documents claiming the land was Waqf property. To support their claim, the shrine committee presented documents showing that the land was registered with the Waqf Board in 1986. However, forest department officials claimed that the committee failed to provide any proof of ownership prior to 1986, while the Indian Forest Act predates that registration. The DFO said the construction was determined to be an encroachment on forest land. An eviction order was issued on June 5 and when the encroachment was not removed voluntarily, a demolition drive was carried out last night. Secretary of the shrine committee, Esrar Ahmed, claimed that the Lakkad Shah Baba shrine was nearly 1,000 years old and that gatherings were held every Friday, along with a Basant Panchami fair attended by people from across the district and beyond. He added that the committee received a notice from the Forest Tribunal on April 30, declaring the land on which the shrines stood as 'forest land' and terming the structures as 'encroachments'.
Time of India
5 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Delhi's ridge keeps dying: Encroachments, govt apathy undermine forests despite court orders and citizen efforts
For over two decades, the Ridge has been defended by courts, conservationists and citizen groups. Yet its decline hasn't stopped. Delhi's ecological shield is now a casualty of bureaucratic apathy, encroachments and token enforcement. As the city chokes on its own pollution every year, its natural air purifier, the Delhi Ridge, is struggling to remain intact in the face of relentless expansion and commercialisation. The Ridge lies at the tail end of the nearly 1,500-million-year-old Aravalis that stretch from Gujarat, traverse Rajasthan and Haryana, and finally end in Delhi. With burgeoning construction and unauthorised settlements, the Ridge, often called Delhi's green lungs, is gradually fading. In its southern reaches, especially, it fights a fierce battle for survival. Just beyond the boundary of Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary, a vital refuge for leopards and myriad species of birds and animals, Sanjay Colony offers a picture of stark contrast. Over the past few decades, this densely packed human settlement has grown rapidly, pushing its way into the Southern Ridge. A spot visit by TOI revealed a colony dotted with concrete structures and commercial establishments, with only a few fragments of wilderness left. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo Similarly, at Asola village in the Southern Ridge, over 38 hectares are encroached upon. Indigenous trees, thorny bushes and ancient rocks have been replaced by manicured lawns of sprawling farmhouses. Carving out private estates from ridge land, Asola village is now synonymous with colossal gates and high walls of lavish farmhouses. It's not just private structures; govt buildings have come up in the area too. Against a backdrop of trees, Maidan Garhi police station in the Southern Ridge has single-storey structures with concrete walls and a tin roof. During a visit, TOI found many vehicles parked on the campus. When contacted, there was no response from Delhi Police. As per a 1994 Delhi govt notification under Section 4 of Indian Forest Act, these are forest lands. Defining the boundaries of Northern, Central, South-Central and Southern Ridge, the notification declared 'all forest lands and wastelands which is govt property' within these specified regions would be classified as 'reserved forest'. The four Ridges, spread over about 7,777 hectares, were declared Ridge Reserve Forest. In 1996, Delhi govt notified a 7-hectare area as Nanakpura Ridge, taking the total notified Ridge Reserve Forest to 7,784 hectares. Apart from the notified five Ridges, Delhi has a Morphological Ridge with similar physical and ecological features. An Introduction to Delhi Ridge , a book published by Delhi forest and wildlife department in 2014, says the Morphological Ridge is described on the basis of seismic zonation provided by Geological Survey of India Map of Delhi of 2006. 'Though falling outside the notified Ridge forest land, it has Ridge-like features in respect of Aravali outcrop and vegetative cover,' says the book. It is granted the same level of protection following a 2011 Delhi high court order, which stated lands outside the notified Ridge areas, but with morphological features conforming to the Ridge, should be given the same protection as the notified Ridge area. Though it is not officially designated as a reserve forest under section 4 of Indian Forest Act, the approval of Ridge Management Board, Central Empowered Committee and the Supreme Court is required for undertaking any construction activity in Morphological Ridge. In a landmark judgment in 1996, the Supreme Court noted Delhi had two distinct features: 'The Ridge, which is the rocky outcrop of Aravali Hills and the river Yamuna. Some parts of the Ridge have been erased in the central city area. No further infringement of the Ridge is to be permitted; it should be maintained in its pristine glory.' However, not much has been done on the ground to save the city's Ridges in the past three decades, which remain 'unprotected'. For full legal protection, the Section 4 notification should be followed by notification under Section 20 of Indian Forest Act after demarcation and settling of land rights. Though the Ridge areas were notified under Section 4, the final notification under Section 20 is pending even after 31 years. Even the management and ownership of Ridge reserve forest are under multiple agencies. There was no immediate response from the forest department. In 2013, activist Sonya Ghosh filed a plea in the National Green Tribunal seeking protection of the Ridge. The tribunal, in an order dated Jan 15, 2021, directed Delhi govt through the chief secretary to ensure the Section 20 notification within three months. It also directed the identification of the remaining area and an action plan for removing the encroachment within the next three months. However, encroachment removal from the Southern Ridge is progressing at a slow pace. Following demarcation by the revenue department, 398.6 hectares were identified as encroached in 2019, encompassing 18 villages that are home to lakhs of people. Of this, encroachment of only 91 hectares was removed till March 18 this year. On other Ridges, the extent of encroachment is still unknown. 'It can be known only after demarcation,' said a senior forest official. 'South-Central, Northern, Nanakpura and Central Ridges are yet to be demarcated on the ground. The forest and wildlife department has written to the revenue department and other land-owning agencies for joint demarcation,' said a March 18 affidavit filed by Delhi govt in NGT through the principal secretary (environment and forests). 'Villages comprising the Southern and South-Central Ridges have been urbanised… However, urbanisation does not change the status of forest land. In 74 matters, different courts have granted a stay in respect of the demolition of encroachment over forest land in the southern ridge,' it added. Claiming 'no concrete action' has been taken so far to remove encroachments from the Southern Ridge, Ghosh, who filed the case in NGT, said, 'The forest department needs police backup for anti-encroachment drives, but it doesn't get the assistance. Besides, there is political interference, and bastis came up in ridges with the support of politicians." Sanjay Colony, she added, was to be removed on Supreme Court orders and alternate housing provided, but the authorities hadn't yet acted on the matter. In an affidavit dated April 5, Delhi forest and wildlife department informed NGT it will conduct the final Section 20 notification of the Southern Ridge, spread over 6,200 hectares, in three phases. The first phase encompasses roughly 3,300 hectares, for which a file was recently submitted to Delhi govt for final notification. This portion comprises forest land without encroachment or any pending litigations. Under Phase II, areas with encroachment but no pending litigations would be notified. The remaining parts would be notified in Phase III. Apart from encroachment, the Ridge is also under threat from cutting of trees for infrastructure projects. Last year, a plea was filed in SC claiming hundreds of trees were illegally felled for the widening of the road to the under-construction Central Armed Police Forces Institute of Medical Sciences. SC imposed a Rs 25,000 fine on each DDA official found responsible for cutting 1,670 trees without the court's nod over their 'contemptuous act'. The courts have been pulling up govt agencies for the past few years. HC in March this year lamented that 'Delhi's agencies don't appear to be serious about protecting ridge forests'. The apex court's Central Empowered Committee (CEC), in a report dated Sept 4 last year, said only five out of 20 govt projects whose conditional permission was given by the apex court for tree felling or translocation in the Ridge area from 2016 onwards complied with the terms. Among the conditions not met were compensatory plantation and the creation of a green belt at the site. 'The project proponents are interested in complying with norms until trees are felled or translocated, and after the construction starts, they pay no heed to other conditions,' CEC said. In another report dated May 8, 2025, CEC found that the Ridge Management Board (RMB) approved 39 projects to carry out work in Ridge areas from 2015 onwards. It diverted 301.8 hectares of land — around 4% of Ridge area — for construction work. RMB was constituted on SC orders in 1995 under the chief secretary's chairmanship to ensure the 'Ridge is not occupied or encroached by any person for any authorised purpose'. However, in 2024, SC restrained it from clearing any project proposals for the diversion of Ridge forests without seeking its permission. On May 26 this year, SC suggested setting up a single 'consolidated' authority to manage the Ridge. According to environmentalist Bhavreen Kandhari, 'Ridge forests are under mounting pressure, not just from encroachments, but also from sanctioned developments like cafés, toilets and event spaces that erode their ecological sanctity. While authorities are removing unauthorised structures in areas like Sanjay Van, they are simultaneously introducing commercial amenities. This contradictory approach highlights the urgent need for clear demarcation of the Ridge. ' Delhi HC, she added, had directed the formation of a committee to oversee the demarcation and protection of these vital green spaces. 'Without precise boundaries and unified management, the Ridge remains vulnerable to piecemeal degradation,' said Kandhari. CR Babu, professor emeritus and head of Centre for Environment Management of Degraded Ecosystems, said infrastructure development, encroachments and the dominance of invasive species were ailing the Ridge. 'The British first brought Vilayati Kikar (Prosopis juliflora) from Mexico to Rajasthan in 1857 to make it green. They then introduced it in Delhi and broadcast its seeds in the Ridge. Nearly 150 years later, Vilayati Kikar is dominating the Ridge and eliminating the native species and their habitats, including moisture level in the soil, microflora and water level. Other invasive species, Lantana and Subabul, are also present in the Ridge,' said Babu. He said if the Aravalli Biodiversity Park model was adopted in the 22km floodplain of Yamuna and the Ridge restored to its natural glory, Delhi's environmental problems, including pollution, urban heat island effect and urban flooding, would be resolved. 'An Introduction to Delhi Ridge' says the Ridge acts as a barrier to the sandladen westerlies from the deserts of Rajasthan, protecting Delhi from desertification. 'With increasing encroachment and felling of trees, this natural filtration system of the Ridge is weakening. Dust storms have become more frequent, and Delhi's air quality has plummeted further, exacerbating respiratory illnesses among residents,' said Kandhari. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Woman power leads peaceful eviction of forest encroachment
Raipur: Frontline women forest and police personnel have led an operation to clear nearly 60.7 hectares of encroached forest land in the Indagaon buffer range of Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve (USTR). Joint teams from USTR, Gariaband and Dhamtari forest divisions and Gariaband police carried out the mission as part of ongoing efforts to remove illegal settlements from wildlife protected areas. Preliminary offence reports (POR) were registered in 2021 and 2023 under Wild Life (Protection) Act and Indian Forest Act. Showcause notices were issued to the encroachers in June 2023, asking them to provide proof of possession of the forest land. The encroachers failed to submit any valid proof, and their claims for forest rights were rejected by the Forest Rights Committee. Investigations of the PORs, supported by satellite imagery from ISRO revealed that the encroachments occurred after 2008, as clearly indicated by changes in forest canopy cover. The entire eviction process was peaceful. Local villagers from Pipalkhunta and Kandsar also extended their support. Encroachers were permitted to take their personal belongings. Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve Deputy Director Varun Jain said that over the past three years, the reserve team has removed 750 hectares of encroachments from core and buffer zones, creating inviolate spaces for wildlife. He added that these anti-poaching and anti-encroachment operations have contributed to a reduction in man-animal conflict within the reserve, facilitating coexistence between the 110 villages in the area & its wildlife population. Jain also mentioned that Supreme Court, in the case of TN Godavarman vs Union of India had issued directions to Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary (as it was then known) to remove encroachments from wildlife habitats and strive to reduce human-wildlife conflicts to ensure wildlife protection. Frontline staff present during the operation included rangers Pratibha Meshram and Ramshila Dhruw, forest guards Rinki Joshi, Gunja Dhruw, Tikeshwari Sahu, Manisha Netam, Jankibai, Banita Yadav, Indumati Chauhan, Saraswati Sahu and Bhumika Sahu, along with members of the forest management committee from Pipalkhunta village. Raipur: Frontline women forest and police personnel have led an operation to clear nearly 60.7 hectares of encroached forest land in the Indagaon buffer range of Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve (USTR). Joint teams from USTR, Gariaband and Dhamtari forest divisions and Gariaband police carried out the mission as part of ongoing efforts to remove illegal settlements from wildlife protected areas. Preliminary offence reports (POR) were registered in 2021 and 2023 under Wild Life (Protection) Act and Indian Forest Act. Showcause notices were issued to the encroachers in June 2023, asking them to provide proof of possession of the forest land. The encroachers failed to submit any valid proof, and their claims for forest rights were rejected by the Forest Rights Committee. Investigations of the PORs, supported by satellite imagery from ISRO revealed that the encroachments occurred after 2008, as clearly indicated by changes in forest canopy cover. The entire eviction process was peaceful. Local villagers from Pipalkhunta and Kandsar also extended their support. Encroachers were permitted to take their personal belongings. Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve Deputy Director Varun Jain said that over the past three years, the reserve team has removed 750 hectares of encroachments from core and buffer zones, creating inviolate spaces for wildlife. He added that these anti-poaching and anti-encroachment operations have contributed to a reduction in man-animal conflict within the reserve, facilitating coexistence between the 110 villages in the area & its wildlife population. Jain also mentioned that Supreme Court, in the case of TN Godavarman vs Union of India had issued directions to Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary (as it was then known) to remove encroachments from wildlife habitats and strive to reduce human-wildlife conflicts to ensure wildlife protection. Frontline staff present during the operation included rangers Pratibha Meshram and Ramshila Dhruw, forest guards Rinki Joshi, Gunja Dhruw, Tikeshwari Sahu, Manisha Netam, Jankibai, Banita Yadav, Indumati Chauhan, Saraswati Sahu and Bhumika Sahu, along with members of the forest management committee from Pipalkhunta village.
Mint
5 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
World Environment Day 2025: India has slew of regulations to protect Blue Planet. Know about them
Today, millions worldwide are observing World Environment Day 2025, highlighting the urgent need for eco-legal action. Hosted by South Korea, the UN event drives home how local laws can combat environmental threats. There are multiple initiatives that have been taken across the world regarding the better protection of the environment. For starters, cities like Jeju, South Korea, now enforce strict bans on disposable plastics. Jeju's 2040 "plastic-free" goal includes deposit systems for cups and mandatory waste sorting. Similar bans are expanding globally, cutting landfill waste. The United States is not behind in this aspect, as US cities are rewriting zoning codes to boost sustainability. Buffalo eliminated parking minimums, prioritising walkability over cars. Indianapolis now mandates pedestrian-friendly designs near transit hubs, reducing emissions, according to Urban Land Magazine. In a report by the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP's Inger Andersen was quoted as saying, 'Ending plastic pollution is possible, but we need systemic change—governments, businesses, and citizens together.' Bivas Chatterjee, Advocate and Special Public Prosecutor, Government of West Bengal, tells LiveMint, "We, as humans, must remember that trees too, have a life. If humans are convicted for taking away lives under sections of the law, why are those, who cut down trees brutally, not tried under similar laws? If trees are cut down or uprooted in areas that are not forests, the accused is simply fined, and no other penalisation is generally imposed." "The existing laws regarding environmental protection in India are age-old and relatively weak, which is why the attack on nature is so brutally conducted in recent years. Stringent laws need to be in place so that people do not get away with harming the environment, which is necessary for our sustenance in the long run." Neil Basu, Advocate, Calcutta High Court, weighed in on the existing laws in the country regarding the proper preservation of the environment. "Protecting the environment is a fundamental right and a collective social responsibility, as environmental justice is social justice. So, let's act now," he told LiveMint. "If we start in terms of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, any person running any establishment which includes a factory and any kind of industry must take due permission from the State Pollution Control Board as well as the Central Pollution Control Board concerned," Basu said. "Section 7 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 prohibits the discharge or emission of environmental pollutants in excess of prescribed standards by any person involved in an industry, operation, or process. This ensures that pollution levels remain within acceptable limits and prevent any environmental damage," he continued. Other laws include the Indian Forest Act, 1927, which empowers the state governments to notify forest areas to oversee the wildlife conservation and preservation, as well as plantation and afforestation. Also, Section 17A of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 prohibits the willful picking, uprooting, damaging, destroying, acquisition, or collection of any specified plant from forest land or other areas notified by the central government.
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Even as SC hears case, road from Haryana to Rajasthan for illegal mining rebuilt
Gurgaon: Between Supreme Court hearings and five months after the Haryana forest department razed it, an illegal road connecting Basai Meo in Nuh to Gadhaner in Rajasthan was rebuilt by miners. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It was this 6km road, originally built in Oct 2024, that led the miners through the Aravali forests to a hillock in Nuh's Rava. TOI reported in Dec last year that the Rava hillock was blasted into pieces and the stones were then transported across state borders through the same road. The matter of illegal mining and construction of the road eventually reached the Supreme Court, which pulled up Haryana's chief secretary last month for failing to act against those violating environmental laws in the state. On Monday, the forest department blocked the road once again. "This is the same road that was illegally built last year under the pretext of village land consolidation," a forest official said, adding: "We have now blocked it again and filed an FIR against two villagers involved in its reconstruction. We have increased surveillance as well." The area where the road was built falls under sections 4 and 5 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), which prohibits any construction in forests. It also violates Section 2 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, which bars construction in protected forests without approval of the central govt. The forest department official told TOI no such permissions were obtained. Experts said the road being carved through the Aravalis for a second time despite an ongoing case in the Supreme Court shows the impunity with which mining is carried out in the area. "The fact that a road is being carved through protected forest land while the matter is sub judice reflects blatant disregard for the rule of law. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It underscores a systemic failure in enforcement and a culture of impunity that emboldens violators. If such violations can occur under the court's watch, one can only imagine the unchecked damage happening elsewhere," said Debadityo Sinha, lead (climate and ecosystems) at Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy. The matter first came to light in Oct 2024, when Basai Meo residents alleged that the road was illegally constructed on forest and farm lands, disrupting natural drainage system of the area. A month later, villagers filed a petition before SC, alleging that the road was built by mining mafia "in collusion" with officials. On the night of Dec 19, miners flattened the hillock in Rava, just 10km from Basai Meo. Locals said they had heard the blast and some eyewitnesses captured videos of it. TOI also reported about the incident on Dec 23. Forest officials believe mined stones from Rava were taken to Rajasthan's Gadhaner through this road. "Mining the Aravalis is banned in Nuh, but there is no such prohibition in Rajasthan. This allows the miners to sell the stones, used in the construction industry, after crossing the state borders," said Sunil Harsana, an ecologist. The forest department, in Jan 2025, blocked the road to stop all illegal activities. It also ordered an FIR to be registered against three revenue officials for allowing this construction to take place in the Nuh village. The Supreme Court, hearing the petition, directed the central empowered committee (CEC) to investigate the allegations. CEC, in its report, confirmed the violations and recommended action against erring officials. Last month, Haryana's chief secretary filed an affidavit that said the state's forest department did not act against violations. The top court did not agree, and in its latest hearing on May 29, it pulled up the chief secretary for "passing the buck" to the forest department and not taking action against other officials. "It appears that (mining) mafia is strong enough to protect not only its members but also the officers of the state govt who acted in collusion with them," Chief Justice of India B R Gavai said. On Monday, environmentalists said repeated violations of norms in the Aravalis was alarming. "Aravalis are not just ancient hills, they are the lungs of northern India. Every illegal encroachment, every tree felled, is a blow to our future. Protecting them is not a choice, it is a necessity. Construction of a road through Aravalis is illegal and it also fragments the eco-sensitive zone," said Vaishali Rana, an activist.
