After Kant Enclave, other Aravalli construction come in the line of fire

The Surajkund-Badkhal road cuts right through the Aravalli hill range — on one side, the hills are still verdant in parts; the other side is consumed by concrete and dwarfed by towers of residential enclaves. On September 11th, the Supreme Court passed an order to demolish Kant Enclave in this area. The order sent shock waves through the region as residents of the protected area fear their property could come under the bulldozer next.

The top court declared the land notified under Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA) as protected forest land. Therefore, it cannot be used for residential or commercial purposes, casting a pall of uncertainty over existing constructions which include residential complexes, educational institutions, ashrams, banquet halls and plush farm houses.

The oldest range of fold mountains in the country has long been embattled by illegal encroachments and the SC order comes as a relief for the forest area but not for developers and residents.

"The gist of this judgment is that construction in Aravallis is illegal," said an environmental activist on the condition of anonymity, "and that existing constructions too may stand to be illegal from the date villages were notified under PLPA. This judgment can also be used to protect the entire portion of the hill range stretching into Haryana and especially vulnerable areas such as Mangar Bani forest, which is yet to be officially notified as a forest."

Despite repeated attempts, forest officials from Gurugram too did not respond to questions about repercussions of the Supreme Court order.