GURUGRAM: The enforcement wing of the department of town and country planning (DTCP) on Sunday demolished 68 structures and road networks to clear nearly 12 acres of land in Sultanpur and Farrukhnagar, to check the development of four illegal colonies around Sultanpur National Park.
The illegal colonies were being developed in the eco-sensitive zone of Sultanpur National Park, the first such zone earmarked by the state government in southern Haryana. The park has recorded sightings of over 250 bird species. In 2010, Haryana government had notified Sultanpur's eco-sensitive zone, prohibiting any construction activity around 500m radius of the park, with a further area of 5km radius around it, where only forest and agriculture-related use is allowed.
"We've been receiving complaints about development of unauthorised colonies in the eco-sensitive zone. During our survey, we found some such colonies in Sultanpur and Farrukhnagar," said district town planner (enforcement) Rajendra T Sharma.
Assistant town planner (ATP) Narendra Kumar said it was their first major drive around the park in recent years. "We demolished 60 structures and a road network to clear around 10 acres, thereby checking development of two illegal colonies in Sultanpur. Similarly, eight structures in two illegal colonies were demolished in Farrukhnagar to clear two acres," said the ATP, adding the road network had been developed as part of the unauthorised colony, where people had started building houses.
Sultanpur park on Gurgaon-Farrukhnagar road — 15km from Gurgaon, 50km from Delhi — is a major destination for migratory birds in NCR. "Our focus is not to allow new construction around the park," said ATP Amit Madholia, adding the colonies were being developed without approvals from any department. As per rule, change of land use cannot be granted in eco-sensitive zones.
According to sources, the illegal colonies were developed by people close to an MLA. "No one can dare to develop an illegal colony in a restricted zone without patronage of influential people," he said. It was learnt people developing the illegal colonies entered into an agreement with land owners and started selling plots to buyers through general power of attorney. "We're considering legal action against people accused of developing illegal colonies in restricted areas," said the official.
The illegal colonies were being developed in the eco-sensitive zone of Sultanpur National Park, the first such zone earmarked by the state government in southern Haryana. The park has recorded sightings of over 250 bird species. In 2010, Haryana government had notified Sultanpur's eco-sensitive zone, prohibiting any construction activity around 500m radius of the park, with a further area of 5km radius around it, where only forest and agriculture-related use is allowed.
"We've been receiving complaints about development of unauthorised colonies in the eco-sensitive zone. During our survey, we found some such colonies in Sultanpur and Farrukhnagar," said district town planner (enforcement) Rajendra T Sharma.
Assistant town planner (ATP) Narendra Kumar said it was their first major drive around the park in recent years. "We demolished 60 structures and a road network to clear around 10 acres, thereby checking development of two illegal colonies in Sultanpur. Similarly, eight structures in two illegal colonies were demolished in Farrukhnagar to clear two acres," said the ATP, adding the road network had been developed as part of the unauthorised colony, where people had started building houses.
Sultanpur park on Gurgaon-Farrukhnagar road — 15km from Gurgaon, 50km from Delhi — is a major destination for migratory birds in NCR. "Our focus is not to allow new construction around the park," said ATP Amit Madholia, adding the colonies were being developed without approvals from any department. As per rule, change of land use cannot be granted in eco-sensitive zones.
According to sources, the illegal colonies were developed by people close to an MLA. "No one can dare to develop an illegal colony in a restricted zone without patronage of influential people," he said. It was learnt people developing the illegal colonies entered into an agreement with land owners and started selling plots to buyers through general power of attorney. "We're considering legal action against people accused of developing illegal colonies in restricted areas," said the official.
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