Eco-initiative or eco-intrusion? Fbd corpn plans waste-to-wonder park in ‘deemed forest’ area

Gurgaon: The Municipal Corporation of Faridabad (MCF), in a controversial move, is planning to build a waste-to-wonder park in Sarai Khawaja, a 15-acre land classified as “deemed forest” in the Aravalis. Non-forest activities are prohibited in the area.The civic body’s move marks a significant departure from past practices, where non-forest activities were primarily carried out by locals or private firms. This time, it is a govt agency that is pushing the boundaries. The proposed area is adjacent to the Bharti Airtel site, which was previously classified as “deemed forest” by National Green Tribunal (NGT). The corporation’s decision has sparked a debate on the balance between development and environmental conservation, raising questions about the future of Aravali forest. It remains to be seen how the authorities will handle this complex issue, balancing the need for development with the imperative to preserve and protect the environment.

According to the forest department, MCF’s proposal to develop a park in the area is a clear violation of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The department, in several communications, had acknowledged that the area is forestland. “It falls under the general section of 4 and is mentioned in the Forest Survey of India (FSI) report as a scrub and open forest area, which has similar forest cover like its adjacent parcel of land that was declared as deemed forest by NGT during the hearing of Bharti Airtel case in 2019. So, by that inference, this area is also deemed forest and thus, non-forest activities cannot be allowed,” said a forest official on the condition of anonymity.In a report submitted to NGT on August 17, 2017, by the forest conservator (Central) of north region, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF & CC), it was held that the area was “deemed forest”. The tribunal in its March 8, 2019 order stated, “The land in question is, thus, held to be deemed forest.”Experts, meanwhile, said non-forest activities are not allowed in the Aravalis and setting up a park, which isn’t a site-specific project, should not be allowed in eco-sensitive areas. “As per the Lafarge judgment of the Supreme Court 2011, if there is a dispute related to Aravali land, the matter has to be referred to MoEF&CC’s regional office, given that the apex court has directed to identify the deemed forests. This exercise should be completed first,” said Chetan Agarwal, a forest analyst.However, MCF has claimed that the area does not fall under forestland protected by the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), 1900. “The Sarai Khawaja area, one of the sites that we are considering for the waste-to-wonder park falls in the ‘gair mumkin’ category. It is not protected under PLPA, 1900. We want to create a dedicated area, which is not a mall, cinema and restaurant, where residents can visit and take their children to. We are looking at multiple sites for setting up a Vishwadeep park that will have replicas of monuments in Europe made of scrap. It will have elements from all continents. Faridabad generates a lot of waste which can be used in the park. There will be big installations and open spaces where people can sit together for picnics. We will need 10 to 15 acres of land for this. We do not want to set this up in any sector as access will be limited. Also, parking might be an issue. We want all sections of people to enjoy the park, so it is difficult to get suitable land,” MCF commissioner A Mona Sreenivas told TOI.