The forest department has initiated proceedings to demolish four liquor vends found operating on notified forest land in the Faridabad Aravalis. The establishments are located in Bhatola, Mangar, Lakkarpur and on Surajkund Road.
The action follows field inspections that found the outlets operating within protected or regulated areas where construction and commercial activity are restricted or prohibited under the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), 1900.
According to officials, the identified establishments were not limited to temporary kiosks. Inspections found permanent structures, including double-shutter shops, paved forecourts, tin-roofed seating areas, boundary walls and attached ahatas. Plastic chairs, benches and food stalls were also found operating at several locations, effectively converting green stretches into commercial alcohol hubs.
NGT Involvement and Environmental Impact
The issue of liquor vends allegedly operating on forest land has been under consideration by the National Green Tribunal since December 2024 following a plea by environmentalist Narender Sirohi, who alleged that around 35 such establishments were functioning on forest land and green belts in Faridabad.
During inspections, officials also recorded environmental violations around some of the outlets, including drains littered with liquor bottles, disposable cups, food waste and other garbage. Officials said such encroachments not only violate land-use norms but also intensify pressure on the fragile Aravali ecosystem, which is already affected by illegal construction, waste dumping and habitat fragmentation.
Forest Officials' Statement
Forest officials said, “Demolition proceedings against these vends are being processed on priority, while legal scrutiny is underway for other liquor outlets operating in green belts and PLPA-covered zones.” The department is also expected to examine how excise permissions, if any, were granted at such locations despite environmental restrictions.
The development assumes significance as large parts of Mangar, Lakkarpur and the Surajkund belt are considered ecologically sensitive and important for groundwater recharge. Courts have repeatedly intervened over the years to curb non-forest and commercial activities in Aravalis.
Environmentalist's Concerns
Sirohi told TOI, “Despite multiple complaints, no action was taken. Spread of liquor vends and associated facilities in these areas normalises commercialisation inside protected landscapes, often triggering ancillary violations such as parking encroachments, waste generation and tree loss.”
He said these shops were not “accidental violations” but a result of “regulatory apathy”. “Entire green belts are strewn with garbage. Such activities are not only degrading the environment but also affecting public health,” he added.
Sirohi indicated that the ongoing action could lead to a broader review of liquor outlets operating in Aravali-linked areas of Faridabad and Gurgaon, where land-use status remains under scrutiny.
