Survey of illegal structures in Aravali Forest starts after SC order

Following the order of the Supreme Court, the Gurugram Forest department has started to conduct a survey of the illegal structures in Aravali Forest. According to the Gurugram Forest officials, the survey is likely to be completed in a week and thereby prepare an action plan to identify the illegal constructions. About 5,000 illegal constructions, including farmhouses, residential buildings, and others, have come up in Sohan and Gurugram, officials said. The Haryana Pollution Control Board has filed a petition in the Supreme Court for 600 illegal structures, while the Gurugram District administration is serving notices to 1,000 unauthorised constructions. Recently, Haryana Pollution Control Board identified 430 illegal farmhouses and submitted the list to the Sohna Municipal Corporation. The city council has also served notice to 350 illegal structures and taken action against 40 of them. Despite the efforts of the district administration and Sohna Municipal Corporation, they failed to stop these illegal constructions and cannot get rid of the illegal encroachments in Aravali Forest. The Gurugram Forest official said that efforts are ongoing along with the orders from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and Supreme Court. The department is making plans to take action against these illegal encroachments. According to a recent survey by the forest department, nearly 500 illegal farmhouses were constructed on Aravali Forest land in Gurugram and concentrated regions like Gwal Pahari, Sohna, Gairatpur Bas, Raisina and Manesar. Image Source Also read: SC rules against unauthorised constructions in Aravali forest