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.

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.

Infrastructure Transport

06 Aug 2026

Surya Roshni delivers customised lighting for NCRTC RRTS stations

Surya Roshni has supplied customised indoor lighting solutions for 18 elevated stations on the National Capital Region Transport Corporation's (NCRTC) Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS), strengthening its presence in India's infrastructure lighting segment.The project involved the design and deployment of lighting systems for platforms, concourses, foot overbridges (FOBs) and back-of-house (BOH) areas. According to the company, the luminaires were developed specifically to meet NCRTC's design, operational and performance requirements rather than using standard products.Surya introduced two custo..

Real Estate

06 Aug 2026

Hilton debuts Tapestry Collection brand in Vietnam

Hilton has opened NHAAN Resort & Spa Hoi An, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, marking the debut of the Tapestry Collection brand in Vietnam and expanding its lifestyle hospitality portfolio in Southeast Asia.Located along the Co Co River in Cam Thanh village, the 174-key resort provides access to Hoi An Ancient Town, Cua Dai Beach and the Cam Thanh Nipa Forest. The property has been designed by Vietnamese architect Vo Trong Nghia, incorporating biophilic architecture, locally sourced materials and riverfront landscapes.The resort offers a mix of guest rooms and suites, including family-frien..

Building Material

06 Aug 2026

Electrent expands lithium energy storage system portfolio

Electrent Energy has expanded its lithium-based energy storage portfolio with the launch of the ESS 850 and ESS 1050, targeting compact and maintenance-free power backup solutions for Indian homes.The new systems integrate a Home UPS and a LiFePO4 lithium battery into a single unit, extending the company's product range following the launch of its ESS 1350 and ESS 2500 models.Designed for apartments and smaller homes, the ESS 850 provides up to 1 hour 15 minutes of backup, while the ESS 1050 offers up to 1 hour 45 minutes on a typical 400 W household load. The systems can power essential appli..