Tag: Aravalis

IndustryLatest Stories

Developers in Gurugram’s Matri Van Earn Green Credits for Trees

GURUGRAM: Developers planting trees in the Matri Van area can now earn green credits, announced Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Thursday. The Matri Van covers approximately 750 acres in the Aravali range. Initially launched as a “memory forest” for organizations and companies to plant saplings in honor of loved ones or under corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, the project has transitioned from a symbolic effort to one where planted saplings can yield credits—akin to carbon credits—that can be sold or used against future environmental obligations. Yadav noted that plantations achieving 40% crown cover on degraded lands within five years…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

CEC Warns Against Mass Demolitions in Aravalis

GURUGRAM: The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has presented a report to the Supreme Court regarding encroachments in the Aravali region of Faridabad. The report recommends distinguishing between legitimate homes in village abadi areas and other unlawful constructions to protect residents’ rights. It advised that significant projects and farmhouses on forest land should be addressed according to regulations. “The district authorities, in collaboration with local representatives, must meticulously differentiate between unauthorized structures and genuine residences, ensuring that any demolitions respect the rights and safety of law-abiding residents. An alternative strategy is being considered to create a defined perimeter around existing settlements,…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

Urbanizing Aravalis? Haryana Sets ‘Forest’ Definition for Laws

Representative Image GURUGRAM: Haryana’s government has officially defined “forest” for the first time, establishing a clearer framework for environmental laws that were previously uncertain. However, this definition is more restrictive than the Supreme Court’s guidance from a 1996 ruling, potentially excluding many areas that the same laws aim to protect. A notification issued on August 18 by the state’s forest, environment, and wildlife department states that land parcels of at least 5 hectares (equivalent to 10 football fields) or 2 hectares adjacent to designated forests, must have a canopy density of at least 40% to be labeled as ‘forest.’ This…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

Panels ready in April, but Haryana delays forest definition survey

GURUGRAM: Following the Supreme Court’s directive for all states and Union territories to define “forest” and identify such areas, Haryana has yet to conduct any surveys. This comes despite the establishment of expert committees by the state government in April. The issue — district and state-level committees are unable to commence their tasks until the state finalizes its definition of “forest” based on dictionary meaning, stalling the entire process. In April, the Haryana government appointed a state-level expert committee led by the additional chief secretary (environment, forests & wildlife), including senior officials from various related departments. District-level committees, chaired by…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

85 of 730 Illegal Structures Cleared in Faridabad’s Aravalis

GURUGRAM: In Faridabad, of the 730 forest areas protected under Section 4 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), about 85 have been cleared of encroachments. “Demolition drives began on June 11, targeting 85 locations identified during the survey,” stated a senior forest official. The PLPA prohibits construction, encroachment, and tree felling in these forest areas. “We are now focusing on larger structures like farmhouses. We’ve encountered resistance at certain sites, leading to two FIRs against individuals for damaging machinery and causing injuries,” he added. The Supreme Court, in its July 2022 ruling, mandated that all Aravali land protected under…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

Fifty Farmhouses Defend Aravalis Against Bulldozers This Week

Representative Image GURUGRAM: Starting from the first week of July, illegal structures—including farmhouses, walls, banquet halls, shops, and cafes built in the city’s protected Aravalis—will be demolished. Forest department officials confirmed that a survey conducted earlier this year identified fifty such illegally constructed farmhouses. Show-cause notices have been issued for new constructions on protected Aravali land in the Behrampur, Ghata, Gwalpahari, and Sakatpur areas. Property owners have 15 days to dismantle these structures voluntarily; failure to comply will lead to departmental demolition. A forest officer stated, “We began issuing notices on June 3, and by June 26, around 50 notices…