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Time of India
18-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
As Haryana wildlife department asks for inspection of Bandhwari landfill, activists say ‘just a charade'
Gurgaon: Haryana's wildlife department last week directed its officials to inspect the Bandhwari waste treatment plant and list out all environmental norms that were being violated at the site. It was the fifth notice to be sent in less than 12 months to its officials and MCG, which was granted a no-objection certificate (NOC) in 2019 to operate the plant that lies alongside protected Aravali forests . Currently, most of the space at the site of the treatment plant is taken up by a mountain of garbage. Bandhwari is the only landfill where all municipal waste from Gurgaon and Faridabad is dumped every day even as treatment capacity has lagged. The wildlife department on May 12 issued its latest notice to Gurgaon's wildlife inspector. "…compliance of the conditions mentioned in the granted Wildlife NOC has not been met. You were instructed to conduct an on-site inspection and submit a report on the current status to this office, which has not been received yet," the notice by RK Jangra, wildlife divisional forest officer, read. Environmentalists alleged on Sunday that these notices were "bureaucratic charade" that has permitted authorities to degrade the Aravalis with no punitive action. "This cycle of non-compliance has been going on for years," said Vaishali Rana, an environmental activist. "The wildlife department issues notices, demands inspections, and yet the violations continue unabated. The most concerning aspect is that despite documented evidence of serious environmental infractions, the NOC granted in 2019 remains intact, raising questions about the efficacy of our regulatory framework," Rana said. Since June last year, the department has issued five notices – two of which are addressed to MCG for not complying with environmental norms, and the remaining to wildlife officials to inspect the site for taking action. Despite these letters, the plant's NOC has not been revoked – a move that experts argue should have been done years ago given extensive proof of non-compliance. In Aug 2024, for instance, a department survey found that solid waste from the landfill was obstructing a path, which was a critical access road used for filling water in ponds and patrolling by wildlife officials in the Aravalis. A field officer of the wildlife department told TOI that they "documented" encroachment of the Aravalis by dumping of waste and leachate in the Aug 2024 inspection. "This toxic leachate is infiltrating water sources that wildlife depends on. The potential for mass poisoning of protected species is not just theoretical — it is actively occurring while we exchange paperwork," the official said. "Consumption of this contaminated water by animals could be lethal. We are potentially looking at cascading effects throughout the food chain, yet our warnings seem to disappear into an administrative black hole," said Sunil Harsana, an ecologist. Environmentalists pointed to a pattern of flouting norms. The wildlife department in 2021 found in a survey that MCG's waste concessionaire was "intentionally" spilling thousands of litres of leachate from the landfill on to erstwhile mining pits in the Aravalis of Bandhwari. TOI reported earlier this month that truckers carrying waste to the landfill were seen dumping leachate outside the site to keep a check on dust raked up from their movement. MCG officials last week admitted that this was a "serious lapse" and ordered an inquiry into illegal discharge of leachate on the ground. Asked why the NOC was not revoked in spite of proof of violations, Jangra said he has directed the wildlife inspector to carry out an inspection. "We will take action based on findings of the report. We will also write to the chief wildlife warden of Haryana for action this time," he said. Rana said this was business as usual. "Field officers document violations, divisional officers issue notices, and then the process gets stalled at senior administrative levels. Meanwhile, the Aravalis continue to be poisoned day after day, year after year," she said. Asked about environmental norms, an MCG official said on Sunday that the corporation will "investigate" the matter to determine if there are any encroachments. "Waste processing operations have already begun at the landfill site, managed by two separate agencies. If we identify any unauthorised encouragement or violation, we will take swift action," the official said.
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Time of India
Cap on visitors and curbs on cameras in Bhondsi forest to protect rare birds
Gurgaon: The state forest department will introduce strict guidelines on the number of cameras allowed per day and hourly visitor limit for the Bhondsi forest area as part of a plan aimed at safeguarding the nesting habitats of the Indian pitta and Indian paradise flycatcher species there. After the proposed guidelines are issued, visitors would also need to register at the main gate before entering the forest. You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon This initiative comes in response to reports from bird enthusiasts about practices by some photographers that threaten the wildlife in the region, which is situated in the Aravali hills and is popular for birdwatching. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo The regulation plan, modelled after the successful framework at Sultanpur National Park, aims to create a safe and undisturbed environment for the birds, despite the area not being under the Forest Act. While paradise flycatchers have flown to the forest, Indian pittas will soon land there and begin nesting. "We are planning to come out with the guidelines to preserve the natural habitat of these beautiful birds. These guidelines will help us monitor and control human activities that could potentially harm the birds during their critical nesting period," said RK Jangra, divisional forest officer, wildlife. "We received complaints by birders that people visiting the forest were disturbing the birds and disrupting their habitat to get photographs. We hope that these new rules will deter such behaviour and ensure a peaceful nesting season for the birds," he said. "We were also informed that people were using recording devices to record the calling of birds and then playing the recordings to attract birds. All this, being done to get good photographs, is unethical. This is why we are planning to come out with guidelines," he added. Further, the forest department said that while they did not intend to stop enthusiasts from bird watching, they would conduct regular patrols to enforce the regulations and educate the public on the importance of protecting wildlife. A visit to the area by TOI on Wednesday confirmed the same. Birders, meanwhile, said that while awareness could be spread and people sensitised, there should not be a blanket ban on people carrying binoculars and cameras. "It is required for birders to carry their binoculars and cameras while they are birding. Awareness can be generated among people who are visiting Bhondsi for birding during this season," said Pankaj Gupta, a birder of the Delhi Bird Society. In 2001, the gram panchayat of Bhondsi gave 85 acres of land to the forest department under Section 38 of Forest (Conservation) Act. Three years later, the state govt tried to notify these 85 acres as 'forest', coupled with a 500-acre area, but the case went to the Supreme Court, which handed over the parcel of land back to the panchayat.
Hindustan Times
23-04-2025
- Hindustan Times
Sport in Bhondsi birding hot spot causes outrage
Even as the Haryana forest department enforces a blanket ban on birdwatchers in Bhondsi forest — prohibiting photography and other non-intrusive activities — group recreational games like volleyball are being openly allowed in key birding zones, sparking outrage among conservationists who say such moves undermine the ecological sanctity of the forest. The ban, officials said, was imposed on March 27to prevent disturbances during bird nesting season and curb potential poaching. But birders argued that the rules are being selectively applied and have ironically left the very species the ban is meant to protect more vulnerable. On March 25, HT reported the Bhondsi forest near Gurugram faces threats from unethical bird photography and poaching, endangering nearly 46% of Haryana's bird species. One volleyball net, birders pointed out, has been set up in the core nesting zone of the red-wattled lapwing, a ground-nesting bird highly sensitive to human activity. 'It shows a complete disregard for the nesting season,' said one birder. Responding to mounting criticism, divisional forest officer RK Jangra said, 'We will send a team to inspect the area on Wednesday. If a volleyball net has indeed been installed within a sensitive nesting zone, it will be removed immediately. We are committed to protecting bird habitats and will ensure such disturbances are not repeated.' Despite these assurances, birders say the continued restrictions on photography and movement — while loud, intrusive sports go unchecked — reflect a deeper bias against those seeking to document and protect the region's biodiversity. 'This is blatant discrimination,' said Anil Kumar Rohilla, a seasoned birder from Gurugram. 'Birders are being targeted because they carry cameras, while influential individuals continue to gain access to the forest. Trees are being felled, canals encroached, and yet those of us trying to protect this space are being kept out. What message does that send?' Nishant Rana, another birder, alleged that a fellow birder's camera was recently confiscated by forest staff without notice. 'I come here to teach responsible birding and promote conservation. Confiscating cameras without any legal justification isn't just harassment—it violates our rights. Birding is environmental stewardship, not a crime.' A Delhi-based birder, who asked not to be named, expressed concern over the impact of the volleyball games on the Indian Pitta, a ground-foraging bird of great interest to birders. 'Its main nesting area has been turned into a sports zone. With all that shouting and activity, how can they possibly breed? This isn't just careless, it's destructive.' Birders also cite threats and intimidation. Parveen Gehlot recounted an incident last year when a car window was smashed after they removed illegal hunting nets from the forest. 'We filed a police complaint, but it's clear the threats to birders are rising. Ironically, we're the ones flagging poaching and habitat loss. Our presence helps keep the forest safe.' Frustrated and increasingly disillusioned, the birding community across Delhi-NCR is now mobilising. Plans are underway to formally petition forest authorities for fair access and rational guidelines. Many say they are willing to adhere to rules that protect wildlife, but will no longer accept what they call arbitrary and discriminatory restrictions. As the Aravallis enter peak breeding season, birders argue their presence is more vital than ever. With forest staff spread thin, it is often the birdwatchers who raise the first alarm about poaching, habitat destruction, and species under threat. Their message to the administration is simple: partner with those who protect, rather than penalise them.
