GURUGRAM: The forest department has filed a report regarding violations in the Aravalis after a visit from TOI to Raisina Hills, which highlighted the construction of a road and buildings on protected forest land.
This report follows a recent inspection conducted by the Haryana forest department in the Aravali region.
Officials reported a total of 83 trees felled over two inspections. Divisional Forest Officer Raj Kumar stated, “On Jan 15, we returned to the area and discovered an additional 28 trees had been cut down. We previously issued a forest offence report (FOR) in September 2025 concerning a road carving incident that documented the felling of 55 trees. Following our latest findings, we issued another FOR and intensified surveillance in the area.”
TOI’s report on Thursday noted that a new road, nearly 30 meters wide, had been cleared in the protected Raisina Hills, resulting in the felling of over 100 trees based on observations from a site visit. The Raisina Hills are designated under the Aravali Notification of 1992, which prohibits construction of buildings, boundary walls, and roads, and forbids tree felling without permission in protected zones.
Non-forest activities are prohibited on land classified as gair mumkin pahad (uncultivable hill), where construction and electrification require statutory approvals.
During TOI’s site visit, loose rocks and excavated soil were found strewn along a hill slope, with large areas appearing freshly cleared and vegetation stripped from the ridge. Visible signs included cut branches, stumps, and exposed roots at various points, with new boundary walls and gates observed at multiple locations, indicating ongoing construction.
The Raisina Hills have been under scrutiny due to tribunal proceedings. In 2024, the NGT took notice of illegal construction at Ansal’s Aravali Retreat in Raisina, issuing notices to relevant authorities and observing that the rebuilding of demolished structures was a significant violation of prior orders.
In December 2022, the NGT instructed the Haryana and Rajasthan governments to form a monitoring committee and carry out periodic reviews, preferably quarterly, until illegal encroachments are cleared from Aravali land in Gurgaon, Faridabad, Nuh, and Alwar. The chief secretaries of both states were tasked with ensuring compliance. A previous survey by the forest department highlighted numerous illegal farmhouses on Aravali land in Gurgaon district, notably in areas like Gwalpahari, Abheypur, Gairatpur Bas, Sohna, Raisina, and Manesar. Although demolition drives were conducted in Raisina, environmentalists expressed concerns that ongoing road construction and vegetation clearance suggest enforcement remains problematic.
