NGT Report: Illegal Constructions in Aravalis Under Scrutiny
NGT Report Seeks as Haryana & Rajasthan Fail to Raze Buildings in Aravalis
The illegal construction in the Aravalis has raised severe concerns, according to the NGT assessment. Since Haryana and Rajasthan have not demolished unapproved buildings in spite of numerous directives, the NGT report has demanded a thorough explanation. The Aravalis’ delicate ecosystem, which is essential to preserving the equilibrium of the environment, is seriously threatened by this carelessness.
The effects of Aravalis’s illegal construction
Among the oldest mountain ranges in the world, the Aravalis offer vital ecological advantages like:
Recharging groundwater levels is a crucial aspect of water security, and the range aids in this process.
Improvement of Air Quality: The thick green canopy filters pollutants and serves as NCR’s natural lung.
Aravalis is a hotspot for biodiversity, supporting a wide variety of plants and animals, including some that are endangered.
Climate Regulation: They help keep the surrounding areas from being desertified and regulate the temperature.
However, unpermitted building has resulted in significant pollution, groundwater depletion, and deforestation, which has an impact on both human populations and animals. The NGT report highlights how urgent it is to address these environmental issues. Cities like Gurugram and Faridabad are more vulnerable to air pollution as a result of rising carbon emissions brought on by the loss of green space. If nothing is done right away, the harm can be irreparable.
NGT’s Legal Position and Intervention
The governments of Rajasthan and Haryana have been repeatedly directed by the NGT findings to take strong action against unauthorized encroachments in the Aravalis. But the government has been sluggish to carry out these directives. Important legal considerations in this matter include:
Construction is forbidden in declared forest areas under the Forest Conservation Act of 1980.
The Supreme Court has ruled that Aravalis is a protected area and has mandated that encroachments be removed.
NGT Orders: The tribunal has directed state governments to provide an NGT compliance report that includes information on the illegal structures that have been demolished.
Concerns are also raised by the NGT study on local authorities’ lack of accountability. Illegal building continues to increase in spite of several warnings. This vital ecological zone is not adequately protected by the government, as evidenced by the opaqueness of land transactions and the lax enforcement of court decisions.
Government Silence and Difficulties
Despite explicit legal directives, the governments of Rajasthan and Haryana have not acted effectively. These difficulties include:
Influential people and builders are associated with a number of construction projects.
Lack of Enforcement: When authorities fail to take action, they point to a lack of resources.
Corruption: Unlawful land transactions and bribery have fueled the development boom.
Encroachment by Real Estate Developers: A number of real estate firms have built upscale farmhouses and business structures on Aravalis land.
According to the NGT assessment, the region’s ecological balance will keep declining in the absence of severe enforcement. The encroachments extend beyond individual properties to include large-scale industrial setups that have been conducting illegal operations. It is unclear how committed the government are to protecting the environment if these encroachments are not removed.
Environmental Advocates and Public Discontent
To stop this unrestrained damage, campaigners and environmentalists have started speaking out. Numerous non-governmental organizations and citizen groups have petitioned the courts for immediate action. More pressure is being placed on authorities by the growing popularity of social media campaigns and petitions. To stop additional encroachments, the NGT report has called for more robust monitoring procedures.
Aravalis protection, according to activists, is crucial for the greater fight against climate change as well as for local biodiversity. The agricultural areas in Rajasthan and Haryana would be impacted by the acceleration of desertification caused by unlawful development. Aravalis’s importance in preserving ecological stability has grown as a result of growing urbanization.
The Way Ahead
The following actions must be performed in order to guarantee the Aravalis’ protection:
Strict Law Enforcement: Penalties for violators and the prompt removal of unlawful buildings.
Raising public awareness of the value of the Aravalis for ecological sustainability.
Adopting strict land use laws to stop future encroachments is one way to promote sustainable development.
Involvement of NGOs and Green Tribunals: Using independent environmental organizations to help strengthen monitoring systems.
Satellite monitoring and GIS mapping are two examples of how technology can be used to track unlawful land use and support the reporting of infractions in real time.
More Effective State-Central Authority Coordination: ensuring that state-level policies are in line with the objectives of environmental conservation at the federal level.
To properly safeguard the Aravalis, the NGT report recommends a multi-stakeholder approach involving local people, NGOs, and government agencies. To ensure that impacted regions are repaired and recovered, more funds should be set aside for conservation initiatives.
Final Thoughts
Once again, the NGT report has had to step in because Haryana and Rajasthan have not taken action against the illegal buildings in the Aravalis. Strict enforcement of the law and effective governance are needed given the environmental issues at hand. Unauthorized encroachments must be stopped immediately and decisively if the Aravalis are to survive.
India can protect one of its most important ecological resources for future generations if this issue is resolved successfully. The NGT report is still an essential step in guaranteeing sustainable growth and environmental preservation. Together, the government, courts, and people must make sure that unbridled urbanization and illicit activity do not wipe off the Aravalis.
If nothing is done now, the environment will deteriorate irreparably and a risky precedent of disregarding legal requirements would be established. The NGT report is a wake-up call that calls on all parties involved to assume accountability before it’s too late.
