Gurgaon: The paving of an internal road in Mangar Bani has now reached National Green Tribunal (NGT).The tribunal has directed Haryana’s principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) to ensure that no illegal construction takes place in the ecologically sensitive area. NGT has also asked the PCCF to file a comprehensive report at least a week before the next hearing. The matter has been listed for Oct 16.Last month, the forest department had stopped the work after paver blocks were laid at the site.NGT, in an order passed on Aug 4, took note of a plea against unauthorised construction of a paved road in mustil (revenue estate) numbers 96, 97 and 115 of hadbast (revenue estate) 15 in Mangar village.The petition, filed by environmentalist Sarvadaman Singh Oberoi, has claimed that the land forms part of the deemed forest of Mangar Bani and is covered by the state’s June 2016 notification declaring Bani and its 500-metre buffer a no-construction zone.Oberoi said, “The issue is not merely about paving of a road. It concerns the protection of Mangar Bani, a forest area that has repeatedly been recognised for its ecological and wildlife importance. The authorities must ensure that no construction is allowed in violation of the safeguards applicable to the area.”The tribunal said the application raised a “substantial issue relating to compliance of environmental norms” and issued notice to the respondents.Mangar Bani is the only sacred grove in NCR, which is home to around 30 native tree species, over 130 shrubs and herbs and more than 240 bird species.Experts have warned that even limited road access can accelerate habitat fragmentation, encroachment and long-term biodiversity loss.The development comes weeks after work on the pathway was halted by the forest department.TOI had earlier reported the paving of an internal road in Mangar Bani. Around 1km of the internal pathway had already been paved with interlocking blocks, while additional paver blocks were found dumped at the site.The forest department had removed labourers from the site on July 18 and written to department of town and country planning for action, citing the area’s no-construction status.NGT order records that the applicant relied on central empowered committee’s Jan 2009 minutes, which specifically excluded the deemed forest area of Mangar Banni in Mangar village from the proposed knowledge corridor and said the state govt should notify it as reserved/protected forest.The tribunal noted the applicant’s submission that the area had not subsequently been notified as a reserved/protected forest but fell under the category of deemed forest.The order also refers to an earlier NGT direction restraining the state govt or any authority from granting permission for fragmentation of land falling in Mangar Gair Mumkin Pahar without the tribunal’s leave.
