The Times of India: Gurgaon: Saturday, April 07, 2012.
The town and country planning department of Faridabad has recommended the publication of Draft Development Plan of Mangar and 22 other villages even as the ground survey to ascertain the areas falling under Aravali ridge and plantation area is still underway.
Documents accessed through RTI shows that the department has written to the state government claiming that the survey is a time- consuming exercise and hence the publication of the "approved" plan should be made public. This is contrary to the deputy commissioner's recommendations that the plantation area should be verified and earmarked in the development plan.The department in its official communication said that since the state level committee had approved the draft plan of Mangar-2031 in January with some amendments, the plan can be publicized to invite public suggestions and objections. The letter mentions that a month after the state level committee approved the plan, the deputy commissioner had asked the local authorities to verify the area covered under Aravali plantation.
The letter mentions that if there are changes noticed in the forest area ( PLPA) and Aravali plantation area, the same can be incorporated in the final development plan.In areas falling under the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), no non-forestry activity is allowed without taking prior permission from the Central government.
This provision restricts change of land use of forest land.The official letter says that the provisions of farmhouses, industries, hotels and banquet halls have been omitted, which were earlier in the original plan. Moreover, the state-level committee had cleared the proposal for setting up a mega tourism project and universities in the region. However, it has put a restriction on the areas meant for these facilities.Now there are doubts whether the Draft Development Plan will include parts of the sacred forest in Manger village which would be come in the mega tourist complex and educational institutions.
Documents accessed through RTI shows that the department has written to the state government claiming that the survey is a time- consuming exercise and hence the publication of the "approved" plan should be made public. This is contrary to the deputy commissioner's recommendations that the plantation area should be verified and earmarked in the development plan.The department in its official communication said that since the state level committee had approved the draft plan of Mangar-2031 in January with some amendments, the plan can be publicized to invite public suggestions and objections. The letter mentions that a month after the state level committee approved the plan, the deputy commissioner had asked the local authorities to verify the area covered under Aravali plantation.
The letter mentions that if there are changes noticed in the forest area ( PLPA) and Aravali plantation area, the same can be incorporated in the final development plan.In areas falling under the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), no non-forestry activity is allowed without taking prior permission from the Central government.
This provision restricts change of land use of forest land.The official letter says that the provisions of farmhouses, industries, hotels and banquet halls have been omitted, which were earlier in the original plan. Moreover, the state-level committee had cleared the proposal for setting up a mega tourism project and universities in the region. However, it has put a restriction on the areas meant for these facilities.Now there are doubts whether the Draft Development Plan will include parts of the sacred forest in Manger village which would be come in the mega tourist complex and educational institutions.
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