Unauthorized Concrete Road at Bandhwari Landfill Set for Dismantling After Forest Department Intervention
In a significant environmental enforcement action, an unauthorized concrete road constructed along the edge of the Bandhwari landfill in Gurgaon is slated for dismantlement. This decision follows a directive from the forest department, which ordered an immediate halt to the construction activities on Wednesday. The illicit track was laid within the ecologically sensitive Mangar Bani sacred grove and its designated buffer zone, spanning the villages of Mangar and Bandhwari.
Ecological Damage and Legal Violations Highlighted
Subhash Yadav, the conservator of forests for South Haryana, emphasized that concreting roads inside Mangar Bani causes severe ecological harm. He noted that while an informal unpaved path existed previously, its widening and paving could fragment wildlife habitats. This area represents one of the last intact forest patches in the Aravalis, making such disruptions particularly detrimental.
Forest officials have reiterated that Mangar Bani remains protected due to its immense ecological and cultural significance. The grove is a biodiversity haven, hosting approximately 30 native tree species, over 130 shrubs and herbs, and more than 240 bird species. Experts warn that even limited road access can accelerate habitat fragmentation, encroachment, and long-term biodiversity loss, posing a grave threat to this fragile ecosystem.
Critical Biodiversity Hotspot and Wildlife Corridor
The Mangar Bani area, along with surrounding gair mumkin pahar (uncultivable hill) zones, serves as a critical biodiversity hotspot in the Delhi-NCR region. It is contiguous with the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary and functions as an essential wildlife corridor, bird habitat, and groundwater recharge zone, as identified by the Central Ground Water Board. Any disturbance here could have cascading effects on regional ecology.
Environmentalists have raised alarms that road construction in this zone could cause significant ecological imbalance. Col (retd) S.S. Oberoi pointed out that even an earthen road could open vehicular access, potentially diverting traffic from the Gurgaon–Faridabad road towards the grove. He stated, "Concretising the road will damage wildlife habitat and increase animal mortality. Mangar Bani is a no-construction zone, and this is a clear violation."
Legal Protections and Historical Directives
Oberoi further highlighted that Mangar Bani qualifies as a deemed forest under the Godavarman judgment of the Supreme Court of India, making such construction a violation of the Forest Conservation Act. In 2014, the National Green Tribunal directed the Haryana government to designate Mangar Bani as a protected forest. Additionally, the NCR Planning Board mandated that the grove and a 500-meter buffer be treated as a no-construction zone.
In June 2016, the Haryana government officially notified Mangar Bani and its 500-meter-wide buffer, covering around 1,800 acres, as a protected area. This notification prohibits construction, tree felling, and mining activities. Officials confirm that the entire zone is classified as a deemed forest, underscoring the legal imperative to preserve its integrity.
The dismantling of the unauthorized road marks a crucial step in upholding these environmental safeguards and protecting one of the region's last remaining natural treasures from irreversible damage.
