Construction activity in Aravalis to be limited
The National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) has asked Haryana government to address environmental concerns raised by various quarters in the state’s sub-regional plan, with the aim of preventing construction activities in Aravalis including Mangarbani forest.
To demarcate the Mangarbani grove as a ‘no-construction zone’ and to limit construction to 0.5 per cent in the natural conservation zone (NCZ) Haryana has agreed, according to sources.
The ecologically fragile Aravalis, as well as forests, rivers, lakes and water bodies comprises of the NCZ that are considered the lungs of the National Capital Region (NCR).
In national conservation zone there is a capping on construction at 0.5 per cent, as per the present norm. However, in the garb of “recreational activity” in NCZ there was a move to allow more construction despite the capping.
Environmentalists fear that in the natural conservation zone under the garb of tourism, real estate promoters would construct tourist complexes, adventure parks and resorts.
However, to construction activities in green areas there were major objections from the Prime Minister’s office, Delhi government and ministry of environment and forest (MoEF). To sort out the various objections to the proposal and send a compliance report, the PMO has directed the urban ministry.
An environmental analyst, Chetan Aggarwal, seeking to conserve the Aravali zone , said that, “Since it is crucial for the ecological security of future generation, there is a great need for the protection of natural conservation zone. The groundwater aquifers are a common pool resource and real estate development in the Aravalis will dry up ground water recharge in the national capital region such as Delhi, Gurgaon and Faridabad.”
Addressing the concern of PMO, environment ministry and Delhi government, the NCRPB, chaired by urban development minister Kamal Nath, held a detailed meeting recently. Haryana chief minister B S Hooda was also present in the meeting.
Before finalising and officially notifying its sub-regional plan Haryana government was asked in the meeting to address the concerns raised over allowing construction activities in the NCZ.
Sources said that Haryana government has decided to drop the contentious provision of more construction in natural conservation zones.
A senior urban development ministry official said, after sending compliance report to the PMO, the NCRPB is expected to notify the regional plan for NCR zone.
Source: Times of India
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