Latest news with #PunjabLandPreservationAct
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Mohali: SC-appointed panel probes green violations in Mohali villages
Acting on complaints of violations of forest and wildlife protection laws in villages such as Karoran, Siswan, and Masol in Mohali district, the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), constituted by the Supreme Court of India, conducted a site visit on Monday. The committee was accompanied by Dharam Sharma, principal chief conservator of forests, Punjab, and Divya P, sub-divisional magistrate of Kharar. The inspection included a visit to Bans Bagh (Bamboo Farm) in Siswan and Forest Hill Resort in Karoran village. The complainants were also present during the visit and shared their concerns directly with the committee, which asked them to appear for a formal hearing. Following this, the CEC is expected to conduct a comprehensive site inspection to assess the extent of damage to forest land, wildlife and the local environment. It will also evaluate the effectiveness of timely interventions by government departments concerned. Based on its findings, a report will be submitted to the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change. As per a press statement issued by Forest Hill Resort, the management submitted all relevant approvals, and orders from the Punjab and Haryana high court and the Supreme Court that support their operations. The villages in question fall under the jurisdiction of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), 1900, and are protected by the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, as well as Supreme Court orders. Even during the delisting process for certain areas, the apex court had explicitly prohibited any commercial activity without prior approval from the Government of India. Despite these restrictions, large-scale violations—particularly illegal hill-cutting—have allegedly persisted for years, resulting in the degradation of ecologically sensitive and biodiversity-rich regions of the Shivalik Hills. Local residents and environmental activists have accused the forest department, district administration, GMADA and panchayati raj institutions of negligence and failure to curb rampant encroachments. The Central Empowered Committee, established by the Supreme Court in 2002 and reconstituted in 2008, functions as an advisory and monitoring body in cases related to forest and wildlife conservation. It assists in identifying non-compliance with environmental laws and court directives, and recommends appropriate enforcement actions to the environment ministry.
Time of India
2 days ago
- 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.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
SC panel's inspection reveals breach of forest norms in Mohali villages
1 2 3 Mohali: Acting on a series of complaints regarding violations of forest and wildlife protection laws in Mohali's ecologically sensitive villages — Karoran, Siswan, and Masol, the central empowered committee (CEC), constituted by the Supreme Court, conducted a field inspection on Monday and found several breaches of forest norms. The inspection team was accompanied by Dharam Sharma, principal chief conservator of forests, Punjab, and Divya P, sub-divisional magistrate of Kharar. The site visit included sensitive locations such as Bans Bagh (Bamboo Farm) in Siswan and Forest Hill Resort in Karoran village. According to sources, the committee observed forest law violations at various sites and interacted with local complainants, who expressed their concerns in detail. The panel has now summoned the complainants for a formal hearing as it prepares a comprehensive report to be submitted to the ministry of environment, forest and climate change. The inspected villages fall under the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), 1900, and are also protected by the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and directives from the Supreme Court of India. Notably, the apex court had explicitly prohibited any commercial activity in these areas without prior clearance from the Government of India—particularly during the delisting process of specific lands. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tukarkan Bitcoin dan Ethereum - Tanpa Dompet Diperlukan! IC Markets MULAI SEKARANG Undo Despite these restrictions, reports indicate that large-scale violations, especially illegal hill-cutting, have persisted for years. Environmental activists and local residents allege rampant encroachments, leading to the degradation of the biodiversity-rich Shivalik Hills. They have also accused the forest department, district administration, Gmada, and panchayati raj institutions of negligence and inaction, raising concerns over the influence of an alleged land mafia operating in the region. The central empowered committee, established in 2002 and restructured in 2008, functions as an advisory and monitoring body in forest and wildlife cases. It plays a key role in identifying violations, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations, and recommending enforcement actions. The committee is expected to undertake a detailed inspection in the coming weeks to assess the extent of ecological damage, effectiveness of governmental interventions, and compliance with court orders. Its findings could lead to stringent action against violators and have wider implications for conservation efforts across the state. In a statement, Forest Hill Resort director Devinder Sandhu said, "Forest Hill Resort welcomed the members of Central Empowered Committee (CEC) for visiting the resort today. The management of resort showcased the green & eco-friendly environment at the resort being maintained by them and also provided all details of various approvals and permissions along with favourable orders of Punjab & Haryana high court and Supreme Court of India operating in their favour. This project also has an approval under 2018 Eco Tourism Policy of Govt. of India granted to us. Besides all other statutory approvals from various departments like Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), excise department Punjab, Punjab Heritage & Tourism Promotion Board etc have been obtained.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Central Empowered Committee to inspect Mohali villages over forest, wildlife violations
Acting on a complaint regarding violation of forest and wildlife laws in villages, such as Karoran, Nada, Masol, and adjoining areas in Mohali district, the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), constituted by the Supreme Court, is scheduled to visit the region on Monday at 9 am. The CEC will assess the extent of damage caused to forest land, wildlife and the local environment. It will also evaluate the timely action taken by government departments, and based on its findings, will recommend appropriate measures. The said villages under scrutiny fall within areas governed by the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), 1900. These areas are also protected under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, and the Supreme Court's orders. Even during the process of delisting certain areas from protected status, the court had explicitly banned any commercial activity without prior approval from the Government of India. Despite these restrictions, large-scale violations—particularly illegal hill-cutting—have allegedly continued unabated for several years. These activities have led to the degradation of ecologically sensitive and biodiversity-rich areas in the Shivalik Hills. Environmentalists and local residents have accused the forest department, district administration and urban agencies like Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), along with panchayati raj institutions, of failing to prevent these encroachments, raising concerns over the alleged influence of the land mafia in the region. The Shivalik forests are known for their ecological significance, and are home to many endangered plant and animal species, several of which are listed as threatened under the (International Union for Conservation of Nature) IUCN Red List. The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) was constituted by the Supreme Court of India in 2002 (and reconstituted in 2008) to assist in matters related to forest, wildlife conservation and flag cases of official non-compliance with its orders related to conservation. It reports to the Union environment ministry. The committee came into existence after a landmark Supreme Court judgment, dated December 12, 1996, in a 1995 case. The apex court ruled that the term 'forest' should be interpreted in its dictionary sense, regardless of land ownership. This means any land that is forest in character on the ground must be treated as such and cannot be used for non-forest activities without prior approval from the Government of India, in accordance with the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, and other applicable laws.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Protecting Shivalik ecosystem: SC-constituted committee to probe forest law violations in Mohali
1 2 Mohali: The Central Empowered Committee (CEC), constituted by the Supreme Court , is set to investigate alleged violations of forest and wildlife laws that have recently come to light in the forest areas of Mohali, with a focus on protecting the fragile Shivalik ecosystem. Sources said the CEC will visit Karoran, Nada, Masol, and adjoining villages in Mohali district on Monday. The visit follows a formal complaint highlighting widespread irregularities in forest management and potential breaches of environmental regulations in the region. The sources said the committee will assess the extent of ecological damage, particularly to forest land and wildlife habitats, and evaluate the actions taken by government departments in response to the alleged violations. Based on its findings, the CEC is expected to recommend corrective measures to ensure enforcement of conservation laws. The villages under scrutiny fall within areas protected under the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), 1900, and the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. Despite restrictions, reports of illegal hill-cutting and encroachments have allegedly persisted for years, leading to the degradation of ecologically sensitive zones in the Shivalik hills. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Soluções de energia de confiança para Data Centers de IA Siemens Energy Learn More Undo Environmental activists and residents allege that the forest department, district administration, the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (Gmada), and panchayati raj institutions failed to curb these violations. Many have pointed to the alleged involvement of an influential land mafia operating with impunity in the region. The Shivalik forests, part of the outer Himalayas, are known for their rich biodiversity and are home to several endangered species listed in the IUCN Red List. The ecological value of this landscape has been extensively documented, including in the publication Biodiversity in Shivaliks by Neelima Jairath of the Punjab State Council for Science & Technology. Adding context to the gravity of the issue, sources recall that a few years ago, when government officials attempted to reclaim encroached land using state machinery, they reportedly became targets of vigilance inquiries, allegedly influenced by those with vested interests in the land deals. The CEC, originally formed in 2002 (and reconstituted in 2008), functions under the SC's directives to monitor violations of forest and wildlife laws and report to the ministry of environment, forest and climate change. The committee traces its origins to a landmark SC judgment delivered on Dec 12, 1996, which broadened the definition of 'forest' to include any land exhibiting forest-like characteristics, irrespective of ownership.
