Haryana assembly passes PLPA bill; 60,000 acres of forests in NCR open to real estate
Shilpy Arora, Manveer Saini | TNN | Updated: Feb 27, 2019, 18:40 IST
File photo of Aravali forest range.GURUGRAM: The Haryana government on Wednesday passed the controversial Punjab Land Preservation (Haryana Amendment) Act (PLPA), 2019 in the legislative assembly. The bill has opened thousands of acres that were protected as forest under PLPA since 1900.
TOI, on February 15, was first to report that the cabinet had given approval to the amendment bill. As per the amendment bill, PLPA will not be applicable in all the areas falling under master plans. Shockingly, the bill also provides sanction to the unauthorised constructions that came up after 1966 in the area falling under PLPA.
As 100 per cent area Gurugram and Faridabad district fall under different master plans, the two cities will lose precious forests to real estate development. It may have severe implications on the Delhi and NCR area which is already reeling under groundwater crisis and severe air pollution.
The bill has been opposed not just by the opposition – Congress, AAP and JJP, but also residents and environmentalists across the country. Two mega protests took place in Gurugram, in the last two weeks, against the amendments proposed by the state government.
As much as 60,000 acres of forests, which is 50 per cent of the Aravali range in South Haryana in the districts of Gurgaon, Faridabad, Nuh, Mehendargarh and Rewari, is now open to real estate. Gurgaon has over 16,000 acres of forests under PLPA, while Faridabad has more than 10,000 acres of forests protected under the Act.
Experts point out that the bill is a violation of several Supreme Court orders, in which it has been stated that areas under PLPA are deemed forest (as per dictionary meaning).
The state government, on the other hand, stated that PLPA has taken away the ownership rights permanently, thereby affecting the livelihoods of citizens, and the amendments are therefore necessary.
Undeterred by the allegations by Congress MLAs, who accused the government of patronising builders and mining mafia, CM Manohar Lal Khattar justified the amendment by saying, "This was the demand of the day. As of now, we are faced with litigation for Kant Enclave and Huda sector. Nearly 16 districts are covered and we have become helpless, hence this amendment was necessary. We have taken care of protected areas," said CM Khattar.
With amendment of this bill, over 80,000 acres of protected land of PLPA Act would be available for builders as well as mining mafias, alleged the leader of opposition during the discussion on bill.
A high drama prevailed soon after the speaker Kanwar Pal Gujjar asked the forests and wildlife minister Rao Narbir Singh to present the bill before the House. Julana MLA from INLD Parminder Dhull was the first to react. Dhull asked the speaker to withdraw the bill without discussion as this would result into constitutional crisis and may lead to critical legal complications.
Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Kiran Choudhary and her teammates - former Speaker R S Kadian, Karan Singh Dalal and Lalit Nagar - were those who strongly opposed the bill.
"This will be the black day in the history of environment as this bill will destroy the Aravalis which not only acts as a shield for the NCR and New Delhi, but is the hilly area of its kind in the world," said Kiran Choudhary.
Joining him, Palwal MLA Karan Singh Dalal directly accused a group of ministers and CM office men of "playing in the hands of mining mafia and the builder mafia".
"Why is this government in such haste to bring the bill without giving a specific reason. Legally speaking this is the violation of court as well. This bill will certainly fall flat in the high court. But one thing is for sure that generations will not forgive this government as well this assembly house," said Dalal.
Former speaker and senior Congress MLA from Beri R S Kadian elaborated about the plantation done on Aravalis during the year 1988-89. "This would be an act against God and act against nature."
Thin attendance of INLD MLAs
Thin attendance of INLD MLAs too helped ruling party as only three out of 16 MLAs were present in the House when legislation business began. Parminder Dhull only held the fort and staged a walkout after assembly passed the bill. Congress MLAs initially walked up to well and later staged the walkout.
TOI, on February 15, was first to report that the cabinet had given approval to the amendment bill. As per the amendment bill, PLPA will not be applicable in all the areas falling under master plans. Shockingly, the bill also provides sanction to the unauthorised constructions that came up after 1966 in the area falling under PLPA.
As 100 per cent area Gurugram and Faridabad district fall under different master plans, the two cities will lose precious forests to real estate development. It may have severe implications on the Delhi and NCR area which is already reeling under groundwater crisis and severe air pollution.
Chandigarh: Haryana Bill for diverting deemed forest on the anvil; experts call it death blow
A Bill having far reaching consequences on the ecology and adverse impact on the deemed forests is likely to be introduced in the Haryana Assembly shortly for facilitating change of land use of the area notified at present under sections -3, 4 and 5 of the Punjab Land Preservation (PLP) Act , 1900.
The bill has been opposed not just by the opposition – Congress, AAP and JJP, but also residents and environmentalists across the country. Two mega protests took place in Gurugram, in the last two weeks, against the amendments proposed by the state government.
As much as 60,000 acres of forests, which is 50 per cent of the Aravali range in South Haryana in the districts of Gurgaon, Faridabad, Nuh, Mehendargarh and Rewari, is now open to real estate. Gurgaon has over 16,000 acres of forests under PLPA, while Faridabad has more than 10,000 acres of forests protected under the Act.
Experts point out that the bill is a violation of several Supreme Court orders, in which it has been stated that areas under PLPA are deemed forest (as per dictionary meaning).
The state government, on the other hand, stated that PLPA has taken away the ownership rights permanently, thereby affecting the livelihoods of citizens, and the amendments are therefore necessary.
Undeterred by the allegations by Congress MLAs, who accused the government of patronising builders and mining mafia, CM Manohar Lal Khattar justified the amendment by saying, "This was the demand of the day. As of now, we are faced with litigation for Kant Enclave and Huda sector. Nearly 16 districts are covered and we have become helpless, hence this amendment was necessary. We have taken care of protected areas," said CM Khattar.
With amendment of this bill, over 80,000 acres of protected land of PLPA Act would be available for builders as well as mining mafias, alleged the leader of opposition during the discussion on bill.
A high drama prevailed soon after the speaker Kanwar Pal Gujjar asked the forests and wildlife minister Rao Narbir Singh to present the bill before the House. Julana MLA from INLD Parminder Dhull was the first to react. Dhull asked the speaker to withdraw the bill without discussion as this would result into constitutional crisis and may lead to critical legal complications.
Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Kiran Choudhary and her teammates - former Speaker R S Kadian, Karan Singh Dalal and Lalit Nagar - were those who strongly opposed the bill.
"This will be the black day in the history of environment as this bill will destroy the Aravalis which not only acts as a shield for the NCR and New Delhi, but is the hilly area of its kind in the world," said Kiran Choudhary.
Joining him, Palwal MLA Karan Singh Dalal directly accused a group of ministers and CM office men of "playing in the hands of mining mafia and the builder mafia".
"Why is this government in such haste to bring the bill without giving a specific reason. Legally speaking this is the violation of court as well. This bill will certainly fall flat in the high court. But one thing is for sure that generations will not forgive this government as well this assembly house," said Dalal.
Former speaker and senior Congress MLA from Beri R S Kadian elaborated about the plantation done on Aravalis during the year 1988-89. "This would be an act against God and act against nature."
Thin attendance of INLD MLAs
Thin attendance of INLD MLAs too helped ruling party as only three out of 16 MLAs were present in the House when legislation business began. Parminder Dhull only held the fort and staged a walkout after assembly passed the bill. Congress MLAs initially walked up to well and later staged the walkout.
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