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A Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee has reported that nearly 6,800 illegal structures have been raised on approximately 780 acres of deemed forest land in Faridabad, in violation of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The committee's findings show large-scale encroachments spread across villages such as Anangpur, Ankhir, Lakkarpur, and Mewla Maharajpur, with Anangpur recording the highest number. While earlier demolitions brought down some of the constructions, many still remain. The committee has also pointed out that several government departments themselves are responsible for some of the illegal developments.
The Central Empowered Committee (CEC), appointed by the Supreme Court, has revealed that about 6,800 unauthorized structures were built over nearly 780 acres of land in Faridabad that falls under sections 4 and 5 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act and is classified as deemed forest. These constructions, ranging from farmhouses and residential units to government buildings, are in violation of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. Advertisement
The committee's detailed survey broke down the violations by location. Anangpur village recorded around 5,948 illegal constructions on approximately 286 acres, making it the most affected area. In Ankhir, there were 339 encroachments spread across about 250 acres. Lakkarpur had 313 structures on nearly 197 acres, while Mewla Maharajpur showed 193 structures over about 46 acres of deemed forest land.
The report further highlighted that earlier demolition drives had cleared 241 structures from 88 sites, covering nearly 261 acres. These actions led to a decline in human activity and visible regrowth of vegetation in some areas. However, the scale of remaining encroachments suggests that demolition efforts have not kept pace with fresh violations.
What makes the findings more concerning is that some of the illegal constructions belong to government entities themselves. Departments linked to urban development, tourism, the police, and the municipal corporation were named for having built on protected land. This has raised questions about accountability and compliance with court orders, as government authorities are expected to safeguard, not encroach upon, designated forest areas.
The CEC's observations indicate that while enforcement steps have shown some positive impact, large portions of protected land continue to remain under threat. The situation reflects gaps in long-term monitoring and enforcement, making sustained action critical for protecting the ecological balance of the Aravalli belt in the region.
Source: PTI
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