Government plan surveys to identify illegal structures in Aravalis

Gurgaon: The state government, along with the administration of Faridabad District, has begun the foundation to identify illegal structures in Aravali forest areas.
This happened after the Supreme Court on July 23 ordered Faridabad Municipal Corporation (MCF) not to set aside illegal structures in Aravalis, including agricultural houses, commercial companies and religious structures, during the ongoing demolition trip in Khori Village.
“We started the Groundwork on Tuesday and will be able to map plans within three days to identify illegal structures in Aravalis with a survey,” said Raj Kumar, Faridabad District Forest Officer.
“The timeline will be marked for the survey.
We are currently working on logistics, labor and mapping,” he said, adding that the survey would map all types of illegal structures in Aravalis, not just a farmhouse.
After the survey was conducted, district administration would first send notifications to illegal structural owners, senior officials told toi.
Notifications will include the appeal to the owner to destroy the structure itself and will state that if they fail to do it in a fixed timeline, the administration will undermine the structure.
The State Information Commissioner Haryana (SIC) Arun Sangwan also recommended that Gurgaon and Faridabad civil bodies form a committee to ensure the ownership of agricultural houses in Aravalis on July 9.
This order came when the commission listened to the Petition of the Ashok Khemka officers was related to the existence of 60 farms in Gurgaon and Faridabad Aravalis.
Kanwal Forest Minister PAL Gujjar last year said the total 60 illegal farm houses were built in Aravalis – 50 in Faridabad and 10 in Gurgaon – between 2000 and 2020.
The Commission has directed the Financial Commissioner (income) consisting of the District Forest Officer Committee, District Planner District, District Revenue Officers, Executive Officers and City Corporate Officials were formed in two districts to ensure the ownership of agricultural houses in Aravalis who fell under their jurisdiction, and the panels submitted their reports within two months.
Meanwhile, Gurgaon District Administration said that it could not form a committee or conduct a survey of SIC recommendations.
“The order to form a committee or to conduct a survey to assess agricultural homeowners in Aravalis can be given by the state government, not SIC.
The current SIC recommendation cannot be converted into an order,” said senior official from Gurgaon District Administration.
Faridabad officials also said they would form a panel only after getting orders in this matter from the state government.