Panchkula forests left defenceless: Plea

PANCHKULA: The de-notification of the Punjab Land Preservation (Haryana Amendment) Act by the Haryana assembly on Wednesday, which throws forests open to real estate, will put the Pinjore, Kalka, and Morni jungles of the district in danger, say local people.

Advocate Vijay Bansal, who is as president of the Shivalik Vikas Manch had filed a public-interest petition in the Punjab and Haryana high court against this de-notification of the PLPA Act, said: “The measure will increase mining activity in the area, which will damage the flaura and fauna of the Shivalik hills. Builders will raid the forest for construction land and endanger the conserved wildlife.”

In 2004, Bansal had moved another PIL to notify this law, arguing that the lower Shivalik ranges in the districts of Panchkula, Ambala, and Yamunanagar were drained by many non-perennial streams. It won orders in favour of the petition. Bansal, later, moved the Supreme Court, which in 2009, also ordered to notify the sections across the country’s conserved areas. Section 3 of the PLPA enables the state government to notify the areas for conservation of subsoil water and prevention of erosion. Section 4 empowers it to “regulate, restrict, or prohibit stone quarrying, lime burning, tree cutting, timber collection, making of forest products, and torching of forest.” Bansal’s petition says: “It is to address these concerns that PLPA be amended and the changes made applicable with retrospective effect. Amend sections 2, 3, 4, and 5 first, and insert sections 3A, 4-A, 6-A, 18-A, and 23 to the law.”