Grove Road Demolished Amid Ecological Concerns

An unauthorized concrete road constructed near the Bandhwari landfill has been ordered for dismantling by the forest department. The construction, which took place within the Mangar Bani sacred grove and its buffer zone in Mangar and Bandhwari villages, was halted on Wednesday.

Forest officials cited significant ecological damage from paving roads inside Mangar Bani, a vital protected area. While an informal path existed, its widening and paving could fragment wildlife habitats within one of the Aravalis' last intact forest patches. This area is crucial for biodiversity, serving as a wildlife corridor and groundwater recharge zone.

Environmentalists expressed concern that any road construction could imbalance the ecosystem. They noted that Mangar Bani is a no-construction zone and its concrete surfacing violates Supreme Court directives. The Haryana government had previously notified Mangar Bani and its buffer as a protected area in June 2016, prohibiting construction, tree felling, and mining.