GURUGRAM: In response to directives from the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Deputy Commissioner Ajay Kumar has established a joint committee to investigate unlawful tree felling and unauthorized construction in the Aravali area of Raisina village, located in Sohna tehsil.
The committee has been tasked with conducting an on-site inspection of Gair Mumkin Pahar land, characterized by rocky or steep terrain unsuitable for cultivation. The committee is to identify any violations of environmental and forest laws and recommend preventive and remedial actions.
The four-member panel, led by the Sohna sub-divisional magistrate, includes a representative from the district forest office, the executive officer of the Sohna Municipal Council, and the regional officer from the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB). It must submit a comprehensive report to facilitate filing an affidavit before the NGT for its next hearing on May 15.
Currently, the NGT is reviewing the case following an application alleging illegal tree cutting and construction activities in the Aravali landscape, which is protected under environmental regulations. The tribunal has instructed the Haryana Chief Secretary to ensure compliance to prevent any illegal activities during the pending case.
The committee will suggest measures that might entail the demolition of illegal structures, restoration of the landscape, and any necessary environmental compensation. “We will proceed with an inspection as ordered and verify the current status,” stated a Sohna civic body official.
Environmentalists have continuously raised alarms about construction and land-use changes in the Raisina hills of the Aravali range, which is vital for ecological protection and serves as a groundwater recharge zone for Gurugram and nearby areas. “There is no question that the Aravalis in Sohna’s Raisina area have faced encroachment. Despite multiple court orders, the district administration has yet to restore the area,” expressed environmentalist Col (retd) SS Oberoi.
In 2024, the NGT took notice of a TOI report concerning illegal construction at Ansals’ Aravali Retreat, condemning the rebuilding of previously demolished structures as a “flagrant violation” of its orders. Similarly, a December 2022 ruling required the Haryana and Rajasthan governments to form a monitoring committee for regular assessments until all encroachments in the Aravali land are eliminated.
In 2018, the NGT mandated the restoration of all protected Aravalis in Gurgaon and Faridabad. However, despite the Gurgaon district committee issuing show-cause notices to property owners in 2020, the area designated under the Aravali Notification has not yet been restored as a forest.
Between 2021 and 2019, Sohna Municipal Council demolished approximately 30 structures in the region and issued around 195 show-cause notices to farmhouse owners for unauthorized construction, particularly at the Ansals’ Aravali Retreat.
