Aravali retreat: Unauthorized airstrip sparks environmental concerns

I want to clarify that no trees were cut down during the development of the airstrip. Additionally, I have obtained permission from both the Airports Authority of India and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to land my aircraft on my property. I want to emphasize that I am not conducting any commercial activities on the airstrip. I purchased this land legally and possess all the necessary documents to prove its legality. If there were any illegality involved, why hasn’t the government taken action to demolish it? Furthermore, why have they not adhered to the orders from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to restore the forest?

“I have seen small planes taking off. It doesn’t happen very frequently, though,” said Dilip Kumar Singh, who lives a kilometre away. Kamlesh, another local, said he had also seen aircraft at the strip, but not in the recent past.

Though privately owned, the airstrip is in Ansal Aravali Retreat, which is designated as ‘gair mumkin pahar’ (uncultivable hill). Hence, construction is prohibited as it is protected by the Aravali Notification of 1992. Issued by the Union environment ministry, it bars construction of buildings and roads, electrification and felling of trees in ‘gair mumkin pahar’ land.
A forest department official said it was not under their jurisdiction.

“The Ansal Aravali Retreat is in the purview of the district administration,” he said, adding the forest department does not have jurisdiction over ‘gair mumkin pahar’. Deputy commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav said the administration was not aware of an airstrip being operated in Raisina. “I will get it checked. In case it is found to be illegal, action will be taken,” he said. The owner of the 20-acre plot had a run-in with authorities in 2012. At the time, an FIR was registered for illegal quarrying of stones by then Gurgaon mining officer RS Yadav, an official said. The landowner rejected the claim.

The Aravali Retreat, a 1,200-acre area, has a history of environmental violations. Adjacent to the plot with the hangar and airstrip are three farmhouses. Several more have been constructed in Raisina over the years despite directions from the National Green Tribunal to demolish all such properties.

The NGT, in its Dec 9, 2022, order, directed Haryana and Rajasthan govts to set up a monitoring committee and conduct periodic reviews till all encroachments are cleared from ‘gair mumkin pahar’ land in Gurgaon, Faridabad, Nuh and Alwar. Last year, govt also submitted a report to NGT, giving details of all illegally built structures in Gurgaon in the Sonya Ghosh vs state of Haryana case. Aagney Sali, the petitioner’s counsel, said “The entire Aravali Retreat land is protected by the Aravali Notification.”

Real estate developer Ansal obtained approval from the department of town and country planning in 1989-90 to develop orchards and farms in Raisina.

The developer proceeded to establish a road network and other civic infrastructure, subsequently selling small portions of land to various individuals as “farms”. While no permissions were required at the time, the Aravali Notification issued in 1992 prohibited construction in the area.

Environmentalists emphasized on Monday that the area is protected.