GURUGRAM: Significant alterations have been made to the land near Damdama Lake, including tree removal and the extension of an electricity line, to accommodate new buildings within this protected Aravalis zone. A 3km kuccha road has been created, running through the catchment area — a region safeguarded under the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA) which prohibits non-forest activities.
The road begins behind the Damdama Tourist Complex managed by the Haryana tourism department and traverses the lake basin, linking newly constructed concrete structures.
Initially 1.5km long in 2021, the road has now expanded to 3km, despite previous efforts by the forest department to block access by digging trenches.
As the last remaining lake at the Aravali foothills, Damdama is essential for recharging Gurgaon’s groundwater, relying on a catchment area of 5,000 acres.
A visit by TOI on Tuesday revealed that approximately 10 acres of scrubland had been leveled and enclosed with green chain-link fencing and metal sheets. Inside the area were visible signs of development, including a semi-permanent red-roof structure, an electricity pole, and an overhead power line, indicating an extended power connection. The expansion of a farmhouse on elevated land was also noted, hinting at ongoing modifications to the natural setting.
Forest officials have announced plans to inspect the site to assess the legality of the fencing, construction, and electrical extension.
Divisional forest officer Raj Kumar stated, “Non-forest activities require authorization. Appropriate actions will be taken according to the law if violations are identified.”
Environmental groups are calling for a joint inspection by the forest and revenue departments to remove unauthorized structures, warning that encroachment could jeopardize Damdama Lake and the crucial Aravali recharge system essential for Gurgaon’s groundwater safety.
The catchment area, which channels monsoon runoff into the 62-acre lake from surrounding Aravali hills, is protected under Sections 4 and 5 of the PLPA, necessitating prior approval for any land alterations, construction, or changes in land use.
Environmentalists caution that land leveling and fencing disrupt natural drainage patterns and compact vital soil layers necessary for percolation.
Vivek Kamboj, an environmentalist, stated, “Once land is cleared and enclosed, hydrological changes occur. Blocking or diverting runoff—even partially—impairs the recharge cycle.”
The current activities mirror past construction inside the catchment, where a previously created 1.5km road allegedly obstructed two feeder drains. Activists argue that this pattern — improving access, followed by land leveling, fencing, and utility installation — is gradually transforming the protected area for private use.
Groundwater data for the Sohna block indicates diminishing levels, dropping from 23.6 meters in 2018 to 26 meters in subsequent years, raising concerns for a region classified as a “dark zone” by the Central Groundwater Authority in 2011.
Over the past four years, groundwater levels in Sohna have remained in the mid-20s, recorded at 25.59 meters in 2021, 25.38 meters in 2022, 26.67 meters in 2023, and 25.71 meters in 2024.
In addition, the area has not undergone chakbandi (land consolidation), which revenue officials suggest would clarify land use and access. Without this, environmentalists warn of fragmented development in this ecologically sensitive region.
