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Haryana authorities have set up a four-member joint committee to probe illegal tree felling and unauthorised construction in the Raisina village area of Sohna tehsil, Gurugram. The panel will inspect Gair Mumkin Pahar, uncultivable rocky land, to identify violations of environmental and forest laws and recommend preventive or remedial measures. This follows directions from the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which has been monitoring encroachments and illegal activities in the Aravali range for years. The committee's findings will be submitted for NGT review, and may lead to demolition, ecological restoration, or environmental compensation.
Haryana's Deputy Commissioner has established a joint committee to examine allegations of illegal tree felling and unauthorised construction in the Aravali hills near Raisina village, Sohna tehsil, Gurugram. The panel has been assigned to conduct a thorough site inspection of Gair Mumkin Pahar land a rocky, uncultivable terrain to assess compliance with environmental and forest protection regulations and suggest corrective and preventive measures. Advertisement
The four-member committee includes the Sohna sub-divisional magistrate as chairperson, a representative from the district forest department, the executive officer of Sohna Municipal Council, and the regional officer of Haryana State Pollution Control Board as member secretary. They are tasked with preparing a detailed factual and action-taken report, which will support an affidavit to be filed before the NGT ahead of its next scheduled hearing in May.
The NGT has been hearing petitions claiming that trees are being cut illegally and construction is ongoing in this ecologically sensitive part of the Aravali range. The tribunal had earlier directed the Haryana chief secretary to prevent any further illegal tree felling or construction while the case is pending. The panel may recommend measures including the removal of unauthorised structures, restoration of the landscape, and environmental compensation where applicable.
Environmentalists have repeatedly raised concerns over construction and land-use changes in the Raisina hills, highlighting their importance as a groundwater recharge zone and ecological barrier for Gurugram and surrounding areas. Col (retd) SS Oberoi, an environmentalist, noted that despite multiple court orders, the area has not yet been restored by local authorities and stressed the need for concrete action.
Past enforcement actions include the NGT's suo motu action in 2024 on illegal construction at Ansals' Aravali Retreat, which called the rebuilding of demolished structures a blatant violation of its orders. In December 2022, the tribunal directed Haryana and Rajasthan governments to set up monitoring committees and review encroachments periodically. Earlier, in 2018, the NGT had ordered restoration of all protected Aravali areas in Gurgaon and Faridabad. The Sohna Municipal Council had flattened around 30 illegal structures in 2021, while in 2019, approximately 195 show-cause notices were issued to farmhouse owners for unauthorised construction, particularly at the Ansals property.
The joint panel's investigation is expected to provide a comprehensive assessment of violations and help enforce environmental safeguards, aligning with previous tribunal directives and ongoing efforts to protect the Aravali ecosystem.
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