Residents of Mangar in Faridabad are sounding the alarm after a fresh, brazen attempt to illegally clear a road through the protected Aravali plantation forests. This marks the second such incident at the same vulnerable spot within months, highlighting sustained pressure on the ecologically sensitive zone.
Midnight Operation Thwarted by Alert Patrol
The latest incident occurred around midnight on November 27. According to local accounts, two dumper trucks loaded with soil tried to enter the plantation area in Mushtil 65. The trucks appeared prepared to level the ground inside the forest, a clear step towards creating an unauthorized motorable passage.
Fortunately, a patrolling team from the Faridabad forest division arrived at the scene in time to intercept the vehicles before any earthwork could begin. After being turned away, the trucks reportedly dumped their soil load near the Mauji Baba temple situated on the forest's edge.
A Pattern of Targeted Pressure
Villagers express deep concern over the repeated targeting of this specific forest patch. In May of this year, soil and rubble were dumped at the identical location to flatten the Aravali slope for road creation. Forest officials had cleared the material and blocked the narrow access with stones at that time.
"It's clear these trucks don't arrive by mistake," stated Sunil Harsana, a Mangar resident and ecologist. "Both times they came after midnight and with soil. Had the patrol team reached late, the ground would have been levelled again."
Conservationist SS Oberoi, who monitors disturbances in the region, emphasized the pattern. "When attempts happen twice at the same location within months, it is not random. The place is being targeted. Constant presence is the only deterrent," he asserted.
Official Response and Resident Demands
Following a formal complaint filed by locals on Wednesday, the Haryana forest department has taken action. The complaint highlighted the area's vulnerability after dark and called for stronger physical barriers and increased surveillance to curb night-time vehicle movement.
Faridabad DFO Surender Dangi confirmed the department's quick response. "We have already taken action. At the moment there is no encroachment. We are alert and watchful. A permanent employee has been posted at Mangar," Dangi said.
While residents welcome the posting of a permanent staff member at the site, they continue to advocate for more robust measures. Their demands include reinforced blockades to prevent vehicle entry and strengthened night patrols to protect the fragile Aravali ecosystem from further encroachment attempts.
