Page 43 - 15MAR2019E

policies

immediate measures to check it instead regard to the fact that the PLPA was ap- the act will only help the real estate de-
of taking any step which could actually plicable. At a later stage someone went velopers, as well as the Haryana Urban
worsen the situation and damage ecol- to the court against Kant Enclave and its Development Authority (HUDA) and
ogy beyond rapair. However, Khattar demolition orders were issued by the Su- individuals by allowing construction
claimed that the amendment was aimed preme Court. Now if tomorrow the court activity in areas where it was earlier not
at protecting Aravalis.He said that the is moved against other colonies, they too allowed due to enforcement of Punjab
fragile Aravalis ecosystem had been ex- may face the same action, the minister Land Preservation Act.
ploited for long through illegal mining. said. In fact Rao Narbir Singh went on Evironmental activists also fear
He said the amendments are actually to claim that the BJP government’ deci- the consequences of the environment
targeted to improve the ecosystem with- sion was actually in public interest. He change. The Aravali areas are the only
out actually in any way damaging the explained that the objectives of the forested areas in bigger cities like Guru-
environment. Amendment state that almost 25 per cent gram and Faridabad. They provide criti-
Haryana Forest Minister Rao Narbir of the state’s geographical area came un- cal ecological services like ground water
Singh too justified the Amendment and der the Punjab Land Preservation Act. recharge and wildlife get their habitats.
claimed that the BJP government did it He explained that this led to large tracts They are actually the last green lungs in

in public interest and only those areas • environment in focus The government says it rapidly concretising cities. Such envi-
which came under the development plan is concerned over the promotion of environment ronments are necessary for a healthy cli-
were being exempted from the applica- mate, the environmentalists feel. The Su-
bility of the Act. The Haryana minister preme Court had ruled way back in 2004
claimed that almost the entire Gurugram under agriculture, public, residential, in- that the Aravalis have to be protected at
came under the PLPA and if the Act was stitutional, commercial and other uses any cost. The court also observed that
not amended, it could cause hardship to being considered unauthorised activi- PLPA areas were forest even if the notifi-
several localities that have come up in ties and unlawful uses despite the fact cations had expired. Some people there-
violation of this Act in the area. that they were permitted because of the fore argued that any attempt to dilute
It is alleged that hundreds of licences applicability of the PLPA, according to the Act could threaten Aravalis much
for construction of residential and com- the amendment in the act. against directions of the apex court.
mercial complexes were issued during On the controversial issue, the oppo-
the Congress regime with complete dis- sition leaders argued that the changes in letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 15 march 2019 43 www.Tehelka.com