Home / Environment / Forest Officials Attacked Protecting Aravalis
Forest Officials Attacked Protecting Aravalis
2 Jul
Summary
- Two forest officials were attacked while stopping illegal construction.
- Staff shortages severely hamper forest protection efforts.
- Supreme Court orders new survey of disputed Aravali land.
Two forest officials faced an assault in Anangpur on Wednesday while intervening to stop construction on land protected under the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA). The officials were reportedly attacked, their uniforms damaged, and they were compelled to withdraw from the site. The department is pursuing legal action.
The confrontation occurred as the forest team attempted to halt alleged illegal construction and encroachment on PLPA-designated land. A group of villagers gathered, leading to the violent encounter. This incident underscores the persistent difficulties in safeguarding the sensitive Aravali region from illegal development and land grabbing.
Despite the attack, forest officials affirmed their commitment to continuing enforcement operations in Anangpur and other vulnerable Aravali areas, seeking police assistance to prevent further encroachment on protected forest land. This situation arises as the Supreme Court-appointed central empowered committee recently mandated a fresh, detailed survey of protected Aravali land in Anangpur.
The attack reflects the dangerous conditions faced by enforcement teams protecting Aravali forests, especially in areas with ongoing illegal construction and land transactions. A critical factor exacerbating this challenge is a severe shortage of field staff within the Faridabad forest division.
Records indicate a significant deficit in forest guards, with only eight on duty against 62 sanctioned posts. This acute understaffing critically weakens routine patrolling and rapid response capabilities, making continuous monitoring nearly impossible. Anangpur currently has no forest guards posted, leaving senior officials to handle complaints alone.
The Supreme Court previously ruled that all land under Section 4 PLPA notifications must be considered forest, regardless of ownership, and ordered the demolition of unauthorized structures. This ruling creates a complex enforcement scenario, particularly in areas with privately owned land where property owners often assert development rights.
Recent findings by the central empowered committee revealed discrepancies between official records and ground reality in Anangpur, prompting the order for a comprehensive khasra-by-khasra survey. The survey's results are expected to determine the legal status of numerous structures in the village.
