Tribunal bans new roads, cutting of trees in Aravalli area

The National Green Tribunal today banned construction of roads and cutting of trees in Aravalli hill area of Gurgaon in Haryana on a plea alleging illegal commercial activities there and set up a committee to monitor execution of its order.
The NGT also directed the persons carrying out commercial activities in the area to "plant at least 50 trees in that area" and asked the concerned parties to "make every possible effort to restore the area to its original natural condition."
"None of the interveners or any other person would be permitted to construct any roads in the area covered under the notification (of May 1992). Nobody shall cut any tree or bush from the area in question. On the contrary, each of the non-applicants shall plant at least 50 trees in that area.

"We also direct that the concerned parties shall make every possible effort to restore the area to its original natural condition," the NGT bench headed by its Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.
The bench, also comprising judicial member Justice P Jyothimani, set up a committee consisting of the Environmental Engineer from the Haryana Pollution Control Board, the SDM of the concerned sub-division in district Gurgaon and a Senior Forest Officer of the area to monitor execution of the tribunal's order.
The NGT's directions were passed while disposing of the plea of a Gurgaon resident Devender Kumar who had alleged that large numbers of persons are carrying on commercial and other activities in violation of law.

He had also alleged that several marble traders and some other individuals had encroached upon the area and were indulging in illegal activities including felling of trees.
The NGT also disposed of the applications filed by several affected persons seeking to intervene in the matter as well as setting aside of an earlier NGT order of January 23 restraining non-forest and commercial activity in the area.
The affected persons had taken the stand that activities carried out by them and the structures they raised were not unauthorised.