Haryana

• 21 Mar 2025

NGT Notice to Haryana Government

Why in News? 

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notice to the Rajasthan and Haryana governments to comply with its 9th December 2022, judgment. 

• The tribunal instructed both states to establish a monitoring committee and conduct periodic reviews to remove illegal constructions from protected Aravali land in Gurgaon, Faridabad, Nuh (Haryana), and Alwar (Rajasthan). 

 Key Points 

• Compliance with 2022 Judgment: 
  • These lands are classified as ‘gair mumkin pahar’ (uncultivable hill), where construction is prohibited. 
  • Despite clear instructions, the states had not submitted any compliance report or taken necessary action. 
• Background of the Case: 
  • Activists had originally filed a plea highlighting encroachments on Aravali land. 
  • The case has been under NGT’s scrutiny for over a decade, focusing on violations of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) notification dated 7th May 1992, which prohibits construction in designated areas. 
  • The tribunal had monitored the matter for over 10 years before issuing the December 2022, judgment. 
• NGT’s 2022 Judgment and Directions: 
  • NGT had noted that encroachers were identified, and both states had formed a monitoring mechanism. 
  • Chief secretaries of both states were instructed to oversee compliance through quarterly reviews. 
  • Aggrieved parties were allowed to seek legal remedies for any violations. 
• Extent of Illegal Constructions: 
  • A forest department survey revealed that at least 500 illegal farmhouses were built on Aravali land in Gurgaon. 
    • These were concentrated in areas like Gwalpahari, Abheypur, Gairatpur Bas, Sohna, Raisina, and Manesar. 

 Aravali Mountain Range 

 

• The Aravallis, is the oldest fold mountains on Earth. Geological studies indicate that it is three billion years old. 
• It spans over 800 km from Gujarat to Delhi (through Rajasthan and Haryana). 
• The highest peak in the Aravalli Range is Guru Peak on Mount Abu. 
• Influences Climate: 
  • The Aravallis have an impact upon the climate of northwest India and beyond. 
  • During monsoons, the mountain range gently guides the monsoon clouds eastwards towards Shimla and Nainital, thus helping nurture the sub-Himalayan rivers and feeding the north Indian plains. 
  • During the winter months, it shields the fertile alluvial river valleys of the Indus and Ganga from the harsh cold westerly winds blowing in from Central Asia.