Haryana admits Aravalis & Shivaliks losing green cover

05 Sep 2023 CW Team

Haryana's rapid urbanization has come at the cost of significant forest land depletion and diversion, particularly in the Aravali and Shivalik hill reserves. This revelation was made by Environment Minister Kanwar Pal Gujjar during the monsoon session of the assembly, in response to inquiries from Congress legislators Neeraj Sharma (NIT Faridabad) and Jagbir Singh Malik (Gohana).

Among the affected areas, Gurugram stands out as the most denuded district within the Aravalis, while Panchkula has witnessed the most significant forest depletion within the Shivalik region. These two districts also account for the highest levels of forest diversion in their respective zones. Over the span of four decades since 1980, urbanization has encroached upon a staggering 4,239 hectares of forest cover across ten Shivalik and Aravali districts. The fragile ecology of the Aravalis has drawn attention from regulatory bodies such as the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Central Pollution Control Board due to these concerning developments. Furthermore, substantial forestland in the Aravalis has been diverted in districts including Faridabad, Bhiwani, Nuh, and Mahendergarh.

In the context of Shivalik districts altering their forest land use, Ambala and Yamunanagar emerge as particularly affected areas. These revelations surfaced when Neeraj Sharma sought details regarding compensatory afforestation in exchange for the diversion of forest land. The Congress legislator, while expressing doubts about the accuracy of the data, pointed out that "a major part of the questions was left unanswered, but it's clear that rapid urbanization has had a detrimental impact on the environment."

This disclosure underscores the pressing issue of environmental conservation in the face of rapid urban development, and it highlights the need for robust measures to mitigate the ecological impact of such expansion.

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