Second deadline gone, Haryana government yet to submit report defining Aravali NCZ
Shilpy Arora | TNN | Apr 8, 2019, 08:12 IST
Gurgaon: The Haryana government has missed another deadline to submit a report of the ground-truthing (ground verification) exercise to delineate areas falling under the Aravalis Natural Conservation Zone (NCZ).
The department had earlier committed to finish the exercise by January 31, then sought two months extension to complete it. However, in a response to an RTI query by activist Aseem Takyar, the department said the exercise is yet to be completed. “The ground-truthing of NCZ pockets is still going on, and is yet to be finalised,” states the response to the RTI by Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP).
Many believe the ground-truthing report will help identify forests, thereby safeguarding the eco-fragile Aravalis. “It’s only after the exercise is completed that felling of trees for roads and real estate in the Aravalis will stop. Ground-truthing is extremely important for protecting Aravalis, which play a significant role in protecting the region from increasing air pollution,” said Takyar.
Environmentalists alleged the Haryana government is deliberately delaying submission of the report, as the controversial PLPA Amendment Bill (which is yet to be considered in Supreme Court), once passed, will have a big impact on the ground-truthing exercise.
“On the one hand, ground-truthing has not been completed in five years. On the other, there is rampant illegal construction in Aravalis. This delay only benefits land sharks and the construction lobby. Attempts to revoke PLPA in urban areas and questions raised on how to define Aravalis makes one wonder about the real reasons for the delay are,” said Chetan Agarwal, a forest analyst.
On many previous occasions, SC, Punjab and Haryana high court and NGT have all clarified the definition of ‘forests’ and asked Haryana to identify them to protect Aravalis. The court orders have been followed up with various directions from the Union ministry of environment, forests and climate change and the National Capital Region Planning Board. Despite that, the ground-truthing exercise has been pending for two decades, delayed by the state government under different regimes.
In 2014 and 2015, a tough talking Punjab and Haryana high court had restricted issuance of licenses for real estate development in Haryana, directing the state government to first delineate NCZ and finalise the Haryana sub-regional plan for NCR 2021. In April 2015, the government sought permission to issue liceanses, assuring the court that identification of NCZ will be completed at the earliest. It’s still not completed.
A total of about 1,00,000 hectare of land falls under Aravalis in southern Haryana. Over 25,000 hectare is identified as forest under sections 4 and 5 of PLPA. Around 62,000 hectare are identified as natural conservation zone, while another 12,800 hectare in the hills have been put under ‘yet to be decided’ category. Environmentalists allege ambiguity over status of the last category is leading to degradation of Aravalis.
The department had earlier committed to finish the exercise by January 31, then sought two months extension to complete it. However, in a response to an RTI query by activist Aseem Takyar, the department said the exercise is yet to be completed. “The ground-truthing of NCZ pockets is still going on, and is yet to be finalised,” states the response to the RTI by Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP).
Many believe the ground-truthing report will help identify forests, thereby safeguarding the eco-fragile Aravalis. “It’s only after the exercise is completed that felling of trees for roads and real estate in the Aravalis will stop. Ground-truthing is extremely important for protecting Aravalis, which play a significant role in protecting the region from increasing air pollution,” said Takyar.
Environmentalists alleged the Haryana government is deliberately delaying submission of the report, as the controversial PLPA Amendment Bill (which is yet to be considered in Supreme Court), once passed, will have a big impact on the ground-truthing exercise.
“On the one hand, ground-truthing has not been completed in five years. On the other, there is rampant illegal construction in Aravalis. This delay only benefits land sharks and the construction lobby. Attempts to revoke PLPA in urban areas and questions raised on how to define Aravalis makes one wonder about the real reasons for the delay are,” said Chetan Agarwal, a forest analyst.
On many previous occasions, SC, Punjab and Haryana high court and NGT have all clarified the definition of ‘forests’ and asked Haryana to identify them to protect Aravalis. The court orders have been followed up with various directions from the Union ministry of environment, forests and climate change and the National Capital Region Planning Board. Despite that, the ground-truthing exercise has been pending for two decades, delayed by the state government under different regimes.
In 2014 and 2015, a tough talking Punjab and Haryana high court had restricted issuance of licenses for real estate development in Haryana, directing the state government to first delineate NCZ and finalise the Haryana sub-regional plan for NCR 2021. In April 2015, the government sought permission to issue liceanses, assuring the court that identification of NCZ will be completed at the earliest. It’s still not completed.
A total of about 1,00,000 hectare of land falls under Aravalis in southern Haryana. Over 25,000 hectare is identified as forest under sections 4 and 5 of PLPA. Around 62,000 hectare are identified as natural conservation zone, while another 12,800 hectare in the hills have been put under ‘yet to be decided’ category. Environmentalists allege ambiguity over status of the last category is leading to degradation of Aravalis.
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