6 days ago
Green barricades: Illegal mining roads blocked in Nuh with 7,500 saplings
Gurgaon: Two illegal roads in Nuh's Basai Meo village, where illegal mining is rampant, have been blocked by planting around 7,500 saplings by the authorities in 13 days. The two roads were carved out by the mining mafia to gain access to the ecologically sensitive Aravalis to carry out quarrying.
To permanently obstruct these entry points and restore the damaged area, the forest department converted them into green zones through rapid afforestation.
"We completed the plantation drive over a 15km stretch in the ridge area along the two illegal roads, which were paved for non-forest activities. The drive started on June 22 and concluded on Friday," said divisional forest officer (Nuh) Pradeep Gulia,. The objective is to develop a green patch on the 33-foot-wide illegal roads.
The forest department plans to employ drone surveillance for real-time monitoring to ensure the saplings' survival and prevent further encroachment. Officials asserted that the initiative is not only an ecological restoration effort but a strategic measure also to block access routes repeatedly exploited by mining operators despite curbs.
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The action comes amid mounting pressure on the authorities to tackle illegal mining in the Aravalis, which has suffered extensive degradation due to unregulated exploitation, particularly in Nuh and surrounding areas.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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Basai Meo has been under scrutiny after revelations of illegal road construction and mining on forest and agricultural land, directly contravening the Supreme Court directives and environmental norms. A report by Central Empowered Committee (CEC) confirmed illegal construction of a 1.5km road, allegedly created to facilitate transportation for illegal stone mining.
The committee also highlighted inaction by the local panchayat about involvement of elected representatives.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is investigating alleged collusion between officials of the land consolidation department and those associated with miners to permit construction on forest and agricultural land. Three govt officials have been arrested, and a reward of Rs 50,000 each has been announced for the absconding former sarpanch and two others.
The SC has prohibited mining in the protected Aravali region, which includes parts of Nuh, to conserve the fragile ecosystem and prevent further environmental degradation. The apex court banned mining within 5km of Delhi in 2002 and imposed a blanket ban on mining in south Haryana in 2009 after observing significant damage to the Aravalis. A 2018 report by the SC-appointed CEC noted that approximately 25% of the Aravali range was lost due to illegal mining in Rajasthan between 1967 and 1968.
