Aravali deforestation under NGT lens

GURGAON: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has admitted a petition against widespread deforestation in the Aravali region of Gurgaon and issued a notice to the district forest department, seeking its reply by February 12.

The petition was filed last month by the Haryali Welfare Society, a city-based NGO, raising concerns over large-scale felling of trees during the past few months in the Aravali region of Gurgaon district, particularly in Raisina village of Sohna tehsil.

“It is submitted that in Aravali hill, the lands are recorded as ‘Gair Mumkin Pahar’ (non-cultivable hill). All the land forming part of Aravali hill is protected by the government’s notification dated May 7, 1992 and also by the order of the Supreme Court. The felling of trees or any kind of construction in the Aravali hill requires prior approval under Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980,” the petition reads.