‘Illegal construction near Sultanpur park’

DANGER THIS IS THE ONLY ECO-SENSITIVE ZONE EARMARKED BY GOVT IN SOUTH HARYANA THE CONSTRUCTION IS BY PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS AND PROCEEDING AT A RAPID PACE. THE ACTIVITY IS HAPPENING WITHIN 500-METRES RADIUS OF THE PARK, WHICH IS NOT ALLOWED. IN SOME CASES, I

GURGAON: VIVEK KAMBOJ, environmentalist

Environmentalists have written to the forest department regarding illeg al construction going on within five kilometres of Sultanpur National Park, Farrukhnagar.
This is the only eco-sensitive zone earmarked by the state g o ve r n m e n t in souther n Haryana and has recorded sighting of over 250 bird species. Any non- forest activity within five kilometres of it is illegal.
H owe ve r, a c c o r d i n g to environmentalists, construction activity is on in full swing but no action has been taken in this regard despite complaints.

“The construction is by private individuals, proceeding at rapid pace and is within the 500 metres radius which prohibits construction activity. In some cases, it is in full view of the National Park entrance or in continuous areas of which the Park authorities are well aware,” said Vivek Kamboj, founder of NGO Haryali, who wrote the letter.

“Repeated attempts to lodge complaints and stop this activity which will completely destroy this National Park, which is a collective legacy of the country, have been in vain,” said Vivek Kamboj.
Forest officials, meawnhile, confirmed that violations have come to their notice in the past few months. Sources in the department said that a Google study has also been conducted recently to check status of the Sultanpur eco-sensitive zone in 2014 and 25- 30 cases of violations have been recorded that will be reported soon.

“We have written to the senior town planner seeking details of Change in Land Use ( CLU) licences granted in the past five years in this area and how they have been granted. We are waiting for the response before we act upon The area within the 500-m radius of Sultanpur National Park was declared an eco-sensitive zone by the Haryana government in 2010. This means the land cannot be changed for any purpose from green to non-green. The order also says that the park and an area of 5km around it can only be used for forest and agriculture-related purposes. anything,” said MD Sinha, conservator of forest, Gurgaon.

The letter was sent to the senior town planner a year and a half ago. There was a reminder sent last month to get details of CLUs near Sultanpur National Park. However, no response has been received in nearly two years.

This area was declares an eco-sensitive zone by Haryana in 2010 by the eco- sensitive zone Sulatnpur notification.

The Sultanpur National Park is known for its migratory birds. The park has three large watch towers specially erected for a panoramic view of the birds. The park, on the Gurgaon- Farukh Nagar Road, is 15km from Gurgaon and 50km from Delhi.

• 25 May 2015
• Hindustan Times (Gurgaon)