NCR Keeps Aravali Untouched In Regional Plan 2041

25 Jun 2026 CW Team

The Union Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal chaired the meeting and said that several suggestions required further consideration. He noted that a large area of the Aravali range and related forest falls within the NCR and that stakeholders favoured measures to increase green cover. The minister added that debate continued over how much area should be recorded as forest and how much as general green cover.

An earlier draft released in 2022 had used the term Natural Zone instead of Natural Conservation Zone, prompting environmental groups to warn that the change reduced conservation emphasis and exposed the Aravalis, forest tracts and water bodies to risk. The minister noted that forest areas are recorded centrally and that the board cannot override matters that fall under the Union Environment Ministry or court orders. He affirmed there would be no breach of orders from the National Green Tribunal, the Supreme Court or other courts and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Some Haryana participants said that, according to a Ministry notification, the Aravali within the NCR was confined to Delhi, Gurgaon and Alwar, implying that tracts in Faridabad might not fall under NCZ, but officials countered that NCZ provisions would remain in the plan. The minister indicated that no fresh surveys would be undertaken and that satellite imagery required ground proofing to distinguish true forest from land that merely appears green. The board resolved to fast-track the Parivartan Scheme to replace older buses and trucks with vehicles meeting BS six standards, compressed natural gas or electric propulsion, and to offer retiring operators an incentive of approximately 30 per cent.

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NCR states agreed to retain the Natural Conservation Zone (NCZ) provisions in the Regional Plan 2041 and to leave the Aravali hills untouched, while the NCR Planning Board deferred finalisation of the plan by a couple of months. The board set up a subcommittee of senior central and state officials to examine new suggestions from members. The panel is expected to submit its final report by August 15. The Union Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal chaired the meeting and said that several suggestions required further consideration. He noted that a large area of the Aravali range and related forest falls within the NCR and that stakeholders favoured measures to increase green cover. The minister added that debate continued over how much area should be recorded as forest and how much as general green cover. An earlier draft released in 2022 had used the term Natural Zone instead of Natural Conservation Zone, prompting environmental groups to warn that the change reduced conservation emphasis and exposed the Aravalis, forest tracts and water bodies to risk. The minister noted that forest areas are recorded centrally and that the board cannot override matters that fall under the Union Environment Ministry or court orders. He affirmed there would be no breach of orders from the National Green Tribunal, the Supreme Court or other courts and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Some Haryana participants said that, according to a Ministry notification, the Aravali within the NCR was confined to Delhi, Gurgaon and Alwar, implying that tracts in Faridabad might not fall under NCZ, but officials countered that NCZ provisions would remain in the plan. The minister indicated that no fresh surveys would be undertaken and that satellite imagery required ground proofing to distinguish true forest from land that merely appears green. The board resolved to fast-track the Parivartan Scheme to replace older buses and trucks with vehicles meeting BS six standards, compressed natural gas or electric propulsion, and to offer retiring operators an incentive of approximately 30 per cent.

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