Illegal Construction in Protected Aravalis Defies Supreme Court Directives
In a blatant violation of environmental and archaeological protection laws, illegal construction activities are rapidly colonizing the protected Aravali hills in Faridabad's Anangpur area. This development persists despite clear Supreme Court directions issued in 2022 mandating the demolition of all illegal structures in the region.
Protected Land Being Openly Sold and Developed
Recent investigations have revealed that approximately 35 acres of protected land are currently under active construction. Shockingly, plots are being openly marketed and sold for prices ranging between Rs 12,000 to Rs 14,000 per square yard. This land falls under the protective provisions of sections 4 and 5 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA) and is situated within a critical 200-meter no-construction buffer zone surrounding the 1,100-year-old Anangpur dam–Suraj Jheel complex, which is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
The terrain shows a dramatic transformation from forested landscape to semi-urban sprawl, with fencing and new development steadily encroaching upon the green cover. Several brick structures were observed in various stages of construction, with fresh stonework and building materials still present at the sites.
Multiple Violations and Inconsistent Enforcement
Surveys conducted by authorities and an SC-appointed committee have identified nearly 6,000 violations specifically in Anangpur, establishing it as one of the primary hotspots for Aravali violations. The land around the ancient dam is being systematically subdivided into plots and houses, with boundary walls, stone-paved platforms, and farmhouses appearing dangerously close to the dam precincts.
"This was forest land, and it's not for sale. It is right at the edge of the protected site where any kind of construction is barred," emphasized UD Gujjar, a concerned resident of Anangpur.
Residents have reported that enforcement efforts over the past five years have been inconsistent at best, allowing construction activities to resume almost immediately after demolition teams depart. They have documented instances of electricity theft in the encroached areas, where illegal power connections were restored to support ongoing construction despite previous removal efforts by forest department officials.
Legal Framework Being Systematically Ignored
The legal position regarding construction near protected monuments is unequivocal. Under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 (AMASR Act), as amended in 2010, construction is strictly prohibited within 100 meters of any protected monument. The adjacent 100–200 meter belt constitutes a regulated zone requiring prior clearance from both the National Monuments Authority and ASI, with large-scale projects such as dams or farmhouses rarely receiving approval.
Beyond 200 meters, while clearance may not be mandatory, courts have consistently ruled that indirect harm—including submergence, vibrations, or associated work—can still constitute a violation of protective regulations.
Widespread Violations Documented Across Faridabad
Following the Supreme Court's 2022 order, the Haryana government conducted a comprehensive survey that identified 6,793 illegal structures on protected PLPA land across four Faridabad villages. The majority of these violations—5,948 structures—were concentrated in Anangpur, with additional illegal constructions found in Ankhir, Lakkarpur, and Mewla Maharajpur.
In September, the SC-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) reported at least 5,800 houses spread across 168 acres of forest land in Anangpur alone. The committee was specifically tasked with reviewing compliance after the court observed that "the process of implementation has been very slow."
Inadequate Protection and Jurisdictional Challenges
Despite these alarming findings, enforcement actions have remained severely limited. "Only a fraction of encroachments was removed. A number of structures on forest land still exist in these four villages of Faridabad," noted Sunil Harsana, an ecologist monitoring the situation. "The Supreme Court's orders and AMASR Act were meant to protect the Aravalis and monuments like the Anangpur dam from further damage. But Anangpur demonstrates how, even after clear directions from the country's highest court and binding legislation, illegal construction continues rampant instead of being eliminated."
Lt Col (retd) Sarvadaman Oberoi highlighted the fundamental challenge in protecting the Aravalis in Haryana, explaining that many hill tracts remain unclassified as forest land. "Therefore, it falls outside the forest department's jurisdiction. Less than half of the Aravalis in the state are protected through court-backed instruments such as PLPA orders and the Aravali Notification of 1992, leaving approximately 55,000 hectares without adequate green cover protection," he elaborated.
Authorities Respond with Promises of Investigation
When confronted with these violations, the forest department stated it would examine the issue thoroughly. "We will check how much area comes under PLPA and how much is classified as 'gair mumkin pahar' (uncultivable hill) and agricultural land," said Faridabad divisional forest officer Jhalkar Uyake.
Similarly, an ASI official contacted regarding the matter responded, "We will look into the matter," indicating potential future action but offering no immediate solutions to halt the ongoing destruction.
Local villagers have taken proactive measures by writing to Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, the director general of ASI, and the Faridabad deputy commissioner, urgently requesting intervention to stop construction activities and protect the dam's historic precincts from further encroachment and damage.
