Latest news with #PLPA
Time of India
2 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Has Bandhwari landfill overshot its area? Forest dept to probe, demarcate
1 2 G urgaon: The Bandhwari landfill site has seen an expansion over the past 18 months, extending well beyond its legally sanctioned boundaries, according to locals and activists. The landfill has purportedly encroached upon at least 20 acres, which residents claimed is part of the legally protected Aravali forest land, which is protected under Section 4 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), requiring the forest department's approval for non-forest activities. The expansion has raised alarms, particularly due to the spread of leachate—a toxic liquid byproduct of decomposing waste—into the adjacent forest zone. You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon The Aravali ecosystem is crucial for maintaining regional air quality and groundwater recharge, and contamination poses health hazards. In response to this, a forest department team visited the site, instructing MCG to take immediate corrective measures to prevent leachate contamination. "Leachate is spilling into the Aravalis. We have told MCG to immediately take corrective steps," said Subhash Yadav, forest conservator (south Haryana). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The landfill now covers more than 30 acres, intensifying pressure on the authorities to enforce compliance with legal and environmental standards. Despite warnings held earlier, including those issued in March 2023, no substantial corrective actions have been taken. Environmental activists said the problems transcends waste management, highlighting encroachments on protected forest land by a govt agency. "This is not just about waste management anymore. It's a clear case of forest land being gradually eaten up by a govt agency itself," said Vaishali Rana, an environmentalist. Residents, like Harbir Harsana, express edfrustration over the encroachment and its impact on their communities. "Landfill has been encroaching on land which is not earmarked for it. Leachate is intentionally pushed towards our village. We have been suffering. We understand that MCG needs space to process waste, but they need to follow the norms. They have enough land, and they should stick to it. MCG is encroaching on land which doesn't belong to it," Harsana added. The landfill, originally spread over 28.9 acres and reaching a height of 38m, lacks a proper waste treatment facility. Despite this, approximately 2,200 metric tonnes of waste are added daily, exacerbating environmental concerns and threatening the surrounding ecosystem. In response to encroachment allegations, the forest department plans to conduct an official demarcation of the area to assess the extent of illegal expansion and determine if protected land has been compromised. The assessment will likely inform further actions or penalties if violations are confirmed. "We will carry out demarcation of the area and we will get it clear," said Raj Kumar, divisional forest officer (DFO). In September 2022, National Green Tribunal (NGT) had imposed an environmental compensation of Rs 100 crore on the Haryana govt for environmental damage caused by waste dumping in the Bandhwari forest area. The tribunal urged the state govt to implement corrective measures, leading to formation of an NGT panel. The panel recommended construction of a temporary wall and use of two acres for disposal of daily garbage from Gurgaon and Faridabad to manage the legacy waste effectively.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Has Bandhwari landfill overshot its area? Forest department to probe, demarcate
1 2 G urgaon: The Bandhwari landfill site has seen an expansion over the past 18 months, extending well beyond its legally sanctioned boundaries, according to locals and activists. The landfill has purportedly encroached upon at least 20 acres, which residents claimed is part of the legally protected Aravali forest land, which is protected under Section 4 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), requiring the forest department's approval for non-forest activities. The expansion has raised alarms, particularly due to the spread of leachate—a toxic liquid byproduct of decomposing waste—into the adjacent forest zone. You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon The Aravali ecosystem is crucial for maintaining regional air quality and groundwater recharge, and contamination poses health hazards. In response to this, a forest department team visited the site, instructing MCG to take immediate corrective measures to prevent leachate contamination. "Leachate is spilling into the Aravalis. We have told MCG to immediately take corrective steps," said Subhash Yadav, forest conservator (south Haryana). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villa Prices in Dubai Might Be Lower Than You Think! Villa for sale in Dubai | Search Ads Learn More Undo The landfill now covers more than 30 acres, intensifying pressure on the authorities to enforce compliance with legal and environmental standards. Despite warnings held earlier, including those issued in March 2023, no substantial corrective actions have been taken. Environmental activists said the problems transcends waste management, highlighting encroachments on protected forest land by a govt agency. "This is not just about waste management anymore. It's a clear case of forest land being gradually eaten up by a govt agency itself," said Vaishali Rana, an environmentalist. Residents, like Harbir Harsana, express edfrustration over the encroachment and its impact on their communities. "Landfill has been encroaching on land which is not earmarked for it. Leachate is intentionally pushed towards our village. We have been suffering. We understand that MCG needs space to process waste, but they need to follow the norms. They have enough land, and they should stick to it. MCG is encroaching on land which doesn't belong to it," Harsana added. The landfill, originally spread over 28.9 acres and reaching a height of 38m, lacks a proper waste treatment facility. Despite this, approximately 2,200 metric tonnes of waste are added daily, exacerbating environmental concerns and threatening the surrounding ecosystem. In response to encroachment allegations, the forest department plans to conduct an official demarcation of the area to assess the extent of illegal expansion and determine if protected land has been compromised. The assessment will likely inform further actions or penalties if violations are confirmed. "We will carry out demarcation of the area and we will get it clear," said Raj Kumar, divisional forest officer (DFO). In September 2022, National Green Tribunal (NGT) had imposed an environmental compensation of Rs 100 crore on the Haryana govt for environmental damage caused by waste dumping in the Bandhwari forest area. The tribunal urged the state govt to implement corrective measures, leading to formation of an NGT panel. The panel recommended construction of a temporary wall and use of two acres for disposal of daily garbage from Gurgaon and Faridabad to manage the legacy waste effectively.
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Villagers urge CM to halt Aravalli demolitions
Residents of Anangpur village in Faridabad have urged Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini to stop the planned demolition of thousands of structures flagged as illegal under the ongoing Aravalli forest land reclamation drive. The appeal comes weeks after a demolition campaign began in the village, following a 2023 state survey that identified over 5,900 unauthorised constructions in the region. Residents of Anangpur village in Faridabad have urged Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini to stop the planned demolition. (Archives) On Wednesday, a delegation of Anangpur villagers met the chief minister at the PWD Rest House in Gurugram. The group was accompanied by Union Minister of State Krishan Pal Gurjar, Ballabhgarh MLA Mool Chand Sharma, NIT Faridabad MLA Satish Fagna, and Badkhal MLA Dhanesh Adlakha. The leaders said the demolition poses a threat to the homes, livelihoods, and cultural legacy of one of Faridabad's oldest settlements. The drive stems from a 2022 Supreme Court directive ordering the removal of illegal structures from land protected under Section 4 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), including areas in the ecologically sensitive Aravalli region. The state's 2023 survey flagged over 5,900 unauthorised constructions—mostly farmhouses, banquet halls, gates, and boundary walls—across multiple villages. More than 5,000 of these fall under forest department jurisdiction. To be sure, the residents do not hold any documents since it is a forest land. Anangpur was among the first to face action under the expanded Aravalli reclamation campaign, which began last month and is expected to extend to other Faridabad villages, including Lakkarpur, Mewla Maharajpur, and Ankhir. Similar notices have also been served in Gurugram's Gairatpur Bas, Sakatpur, and Manesar. After the meeting, chief minister Saini reiterated the government's commitment to the court's orders but expressed sympathy for the villagers. 'The state government fully respects the directions of the Supreme Court. However, we are equally sensitive to the sentiments of the people. Many of these families have lived in Anangpur for generations. We are committed to finding a balanced path that safeguards both our environment and our citizens,' he said. CM Saini added that the matter would be placed before the state Coordination Committee, which will prepare a formal petition to the Supreme Court seeking appropriate relief. 'Our aim is not to displace law-abiding citizens. We will represent their case through legal channels and request the court to consider the historical and humanitarian aspects of the issue,' the chief minister said. Ballabhgarh MLA Mool Chand Sharma underscored the emotional and historical significance of the village. 'Anangpur is centuries old. Residents here have lived through generations. We requested the Chief Minister to ensure their voices are heard in court. His assurance to present their case legally offers hope,' he said. 'Political parties, including the opposition, appear to be anti-environment in their stance on the Anangpur demolition issue,' said environmentalist S.S. Oberoi. 'Instead of supporting the implementation of the Supreme Court's orders for environmental protection, they have united in opposition as deadlines continue to be ignored.'
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Penalty burden eases on private university that built campus illegally in Aravalis
Gurgaon: The penalty on a private university for using over 13 hectares of protected forest land in Faridabad without full permission is likely to come down sharply after the Centre decided to apply its new, relaxed rules in the case. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Aravali land, located along the Badkhal-Surajkund Road, was protected under Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), 1900. The university — Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies (MRIIRS) — used this land for construction before getting prior clearance, as mandated, under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. But after the FCA was amended in 2023, the campus became among the first to get post facto approval. During a meeting on June 12, the Union environment ministry's advisory committee recommended applying the 2023 forest rules for calculating the fine, replacing the stricter 2019 guidelines. Under the 2019 guidelines, the penal Net Present Value (NPV) — a form of financial compensation — was calculated from the actual date the forest land was used, with an additional 12% simple interest for each year of violation until payment was made. This meant that if an agency began using the land without formal clearance in 2019, it would incur a penalty for each subsequent year, significantly increasing the financial burden. However, under the revised 2023 guidelines, the Union environment ministry introduced a key change — penal interest would now be applied only from the date the penalty demand was officially raised, not from the date of the original violation. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This adjustment substantially reduces the total payable amount in delayed cases. After this change was implemented, the Haryana govt sought clarification from the Centre on which set of rules should apply to the Manav Rachna forest diversion case, where the land was used before final approvals were granted. The state govt specifically enquired if the stricter 2019 rules or more lenient 2023 norms should govern the calculation of the penal NPV — a decision with financial implications. This query was a focal point in the June 2025 meeting of the forest advisory committee, where the ministry reaffirmed its Nov 2024 clarification in favour of applying the 2023 norms. Approval & penalty reduction: The Centre had granted in-principle approval for the land diversion on Dec 29, 2023, but also flagged that the university violated forest norms by starting work prematurely. The main query was how much the varsity should pay as a penalty (NPV) for using forest land without permission. This recommendation was made because construction of the university began in 1991, well before the 1996 cut-off date. Last year, Parliament revised the Forest Conservation Act (FCA), stating if construction occurred prior to Dec 12, 1996, the Act would not be applicable. Under the 2019 rules, the penalty would have been calculated from the year the land was first used — potentially as early as 2019 or 2020 — and would include 12% annual interest, resulting in a total fine of approximately ₹20 crore. However, under the new 2023 rules, interest is counted only from the date the fine was officially demanded, reducing the fine by 2.5 times — around 60% less than what the institute would have paid earlier. Activists flag green concerns: While the move provides relief to the university, it has raised concerns among environmental activists. They argued that it could encourage more illegal use of protected land, particularly in fragile zones like Aravalis. Former forest conservator (south Haryana) RP Balwan criticised the decision, stating it violates the Supreme Court orders from 2008 and 2019, which prohibit construction in the Aravalis. "The Centre, too, has acknowledged the protected status of Aravali land earlier. In 2008 and 2009, reports by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), which guides the govt on key decisions, said the entire Aravali region of Gurgaon and Faridabad are prohibited zones under FCA and construction can only be allowed to install power lines and build village link roads. So, entertaining the FCA case is wrong, forget about reducing penalties," said Balwan. Activists also said reducing the penalty by 2.5 times sends a message that violations can be rectified with money, weakening forest land protection. Chetan Agarwal, a forest analyst, said, "The land in question is village Shamlat common land that appears to have been dubiously privatised. The govt should restore the land to the gram panchayat or Faridabad corporation in line with SC judgments in Jagpal Singh v. State of Punjab (2012) and Jai Singh v. State of Haryana (2022) and take possession of the buildings in public interest." He proposed that any forest clearance granted to Manav Rachna University should be provisional, subject to the outcome of ongoing or future ownership cases. What's next? Before receiving the final clearance, the university must fulfil several conditions. It should plant trees on an equivalent area of non-forest land (14ha), repair damage on 0.19 ha of encroached land, properly mark the diverted land with boundary pillars and comply with the Forest Rights Act and Environment Protection Act. Till these requirements aren't met, the land cannot be legally transferred to the varsity.
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Time of India
Haryana vigilance arrests top revenue officer in Aravali illegal mining scam
Chandigarh: In yet another major catch in the ongoing investigations into illegal mining scam in Aravalis, the Haryana State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (HVACB) unit of Gurgaon arrested district revenue officer (DRO) Bijender Rana, who held additional charge of the consolidation department. ACB officials said that Rana's arrest followed after sufficient evidence was found against him in the case. Notably, a case was registered under Sections 201, 318(2), 316(2), 61, 270, 329(3), 303 BNS, Section 21 of the Mines & Minerals (Development & Regulations) Act 1957, Section 15(1) of the Environment Protection Act 1986, and Section 19 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA) 1900, during the investigation by the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Gurgaon. The issue relates to carving out illegal and unauthorised paths in the eco-fragile Aravalis to facilitate the mining mafia, which has almost ground the hillock with blasts in Aravalis in the Mewat region. Bijendra Rana, the then district revenue officer of Nuh, is accused of approving the expansion of two roads from 4 karam to 6 karam in the village Basai Mew, Firozpur Jhirka, district Nuh, during his tenure as settlement officer in 2024. After the consolidation scheme, the villagers filed a written objection regarding the construction of two illegal roads to Bijendra Rana. The complaint alleged that these illegal roads were being constructed in collusion with legal/illegal mining owners, crusher owners, royalty contractors from Rajasthan, and some people from the village Basai Mew to gain undue advantage and profit. However, the accused dismissed objection No. 2 after a hearing and approved Objection No. 3 submitted by Hanif alias Hanna, the then sarpanch of village Basai Mew, and other villagers, approving the expansion of two roads from 4 karam to 6 karam from village Basai Mew to village Nangal and Chapra in Rajasthan. The State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, Gurgaon, has already arrested Sher Mohammad and Mohammad Latif, along with three former officials of the consolidation department in this case. A cash reward of 50,000 each has been announced for the capture of three absconding accused: Shabir, Shaukat and Hanif. The investigation of the case is ongoing. MSID: 122404348 413 |
