Times of India: Gurgaon: Monday,
February 27, 2017.
Only 565
environmental norm violations were reported in Gurgaon and Mewat areas of
Aravali Hills between April 1992 and March 2015, and no action has been taken
against any officials so far, according to an RTI reply.
Of the 565
violations, 524 were filed in the court, which hears complaints that allege
violations of environmental norms in Gurgaon and Faridabad areas, while 41
plaints are still pending with various departments owing to non-availability of
land ownership documents.
"As many
as 565 violations have been noticed till March 2015 since the implementation of
Aravali notification. But no action has been taken against any official yet
under the provisions of Environment Act," states the RTI reply, a copy of
which is with TOI. The report on violations in last two fiscal years - April
2015 till date - are not available, according to sources.
The
violations that were spotted include non-forestry activities such as
construction of boundary walls, felling of trees, construction of gate pillars
and small sheds for shops, installation of tube wells and submersible pumps and
landscaping.
"It is
unbelievable that only 565 environmental violations were reported between 1992
and 2016. Violations such as construction of walls and tree felling are
reported by newspapers almost every day. It shows that figures are false,"
said Aseem Takyar, a city-based activist.
Vivek Kamboj,
a Gurgaon-based environmentalist, said some of the environmental violations are
going unnoticed by the authorities. "Activists report violations almost on
a daily basis. It shows that most cases go unreported as authorities are hand
in glove with offenders," he said.
Environmentalists
also raised their concerns over installation of tube wells in forest areas.
"Apart from tree felling and illegal construction, installation of
submersible pumps is also a concern. It is leading to depletion of groundwater
in environmentally sensitive Aravalis," said Jitender Bhadana, a
Faridabad-based environmentalist.
The May 1992
Aravali notification prohibits construction of dwelling units, farmhouses and
sheds beside mining and tree felling in forest areas.