Five days after The Pioneer exposed rampant illegal constructions on Aravalli land in violation of National Green Tribunal (NGT) directives, a formal inquiry has been ordered by the Divisional Commissioner, Ramesh Chander Bidhan.
The probe has been marked to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Gurugram, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Sohna and the Executive Officer (EO) of the Sohna Municipal Council.
The development comes in response to revelations made in The Pioneer’s report that highlighted the ongoing violations in protected Aravalli zones and the alleged inaction of the Sohna Municipal Council.
The report questioned the Council’s selective enforcement of NGT guidelines and raised concerns about its
seriousness in curbing illegal activities.
Sources confirmed that despite clear orders from the NGT mandating demolition of unauthorised structures in ecologically sensitive areas such as Ansal Aravali Retreat and Raisina, the Municipal Council has shown minimal progress.
While notices were issued to a limited number of violators and public warnings were made urging self-demolition of illegal structures, these actions appear to be mere formalities.
A recent inspection conducted on Sunday found recent construction at several sites, including plots B-01, D-08, E-20, E-34, G-9, CR-27, F-10 and C-56.
Notably, fresh concrete was laid at plot no F-10, further raising doubts about the Council’s enforcement efforts.
Insiders have revealed that although a detailed list of illegal constructions has been prepared, enforcement action has only been initiated against a select few, sparking allegations of favoritism and undermining the credibility of the Sohna Municipal Council.
Reports indicate that many plot owners in the region have acquired land under the pretense of building farmhouses but have developed luxury residences and commercial properties instead.
This is a clear violation of the 1992 Aravalli Notification, which prohibits any construction on gair mumkin pahar (uncultivable hills).
Despite several notices and legal provisions, construction continues unchecked.
Earlier, the Sohna Municipal Council had issued warnings to multiple owners in Ansal Aravali Retreat and Golden Heights, following an October 2018 directive from the NGT.
However, the ongoing rise of permanent structures and fencing in the restricted forest area highlights a persistent failure in enforcement.
Meanwhile, Members of the Aravali Retreat Welfare Association (ARRWA) have demanded stringent action and transparency in the ongoing probe to safeguard the fragile Aravalli ecosystem from further degradation.
