Forest Department Halts Illegal Pathway Construction at Bandhwari Landfill in Aravalis
The construction of an unauthorized pathway along the edge of the Bandhwari landfill in the Aravali range was abruptly stopped on Wednesday after the forest department discovered it lacked the mandatory permissions required for such activities in an ecologically sensitive zone. The work was identified during routine field inspections conducted by officials.
Unauthorized Work Detected During Inspections
Divisional Forest Officer (Faridabad) Surender Dangi stated that residents were attempting to construct a pathway adjoining the landfill towards Mangar. "Vegetation had been cleared and the ground levelled to create an informal access route," an official explained, emphasizing that since the land falls within the Aravali forest landscape, any construction or alteration necessitates prior clearance under forest and wildlife protection laws.
The stretch involved measures approximately 150 to 200 metres in length and is situated close to protected forest patches around Mangar. This area serves as part of the ecological buffer surrounding the landfill, a region that remains under stringent regulatory scrutiny due to ongoing environmental concerns.
History of Environmental Violations at the Site
There have been longstanding allegations that the landfill site has expanded beyond its sanctioned limits, encroaching upon protected forest land. In July last year, the site was reported to have expanded over nearly 20 acres outside its approved boundary, infringing on forest land protected under the Punjab Land Preservation Act. Forest officials have also raised alarms about the spread of leachate from the landfill into adjacent forest areas, prompting directives to the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) to implement corrective measures.
In 2022, the National Green Tribunal imposed an environmental compensation of Rs 100 crore on the Haryana government over waste dumping in the Bandhwari forest area and ordered remedial actions to address the violations.
Ecological Risks Highlighted by Experts
Environmentalists have issued warnings that even a short, informal road could lead to severe ecological consequences. These include habitat fragmentation and further encroachment, which could exacerbate the already fragile state of the Aravali ecosystem. The stoppage of this construction underscores the critical need for adherence to environmental regulations to protect sensitive forest landscapes from irreversible damage.
