Gurgaon: A central govt panel has sought a report from Haryana govt after it came to light that an industrial unit in Sonipat was using a patch of forest land for approach access without prior approval.The matter has prompted the Centre’s advisory committee to seek penal action against forest officials concerned and defer a proposal seeking clearance for use of the land. The user agency had sought diversion of the forest land for approach access from the ODR road connecting NH-334B to Narela Road.The committee on Aug 10 pointed out that the unit — in Kanwali village of Kharkhoda — continued using 90sqm of forest land as an approach road without mandatory approval, even after forest officials recorded the violation and issued a forest offence report (FOR) in March 2024.However, during a recent inspection, forest officials found that the forest land was still being used for approach access without prior approval under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980. The committee observed that this amounted to a continuing violation and needed to be dealt with under the Forest Conservation Act.The committee has now directed Haryana govt to clarify whether the land continued to be used and submit documentary evidence of steps taken to remove the encroachment.The state has been directed to initiate action and penal proceedings against the erring officials under Sections 3A and 3B of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980 and submit an action taken report. The proposal was deferred pending these details.The proposal will be reconsidered after Haryana submits details on the continuing use of the forest land, action taken to remove the encroachment and the proceedings initiated against the officials responsible.According to the site inspection report of the regional office, Chandigarh, the violation was recorded on March 13, 2024, following which forest officials issued an FOR. The user agency paid Rs 45,000 towards the charges.The committee also noted that the state govt had identified the unit as responsible for violation of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 and the forest conservation law. It nevertheless specifically sought action against the officials responsible for the lapse.The proposed diversion involves 0.009 hectare of forest land, equivalent to about 90 sq metres. No tree felling is involved. The patch has a reported vegetation density of 0.1 and is classified as Eco Class III. This vegetation density of 0.1 means the forest patch has relatively sparse tree cover, with the canopy covering about 10% of the area. Eco Class III is the ecological classification assigned to that type of forest area under the forest diversion assessment.Haryana govt has proposed compensatory afforestation over 0.2 hectare of protected forest land at Drain No. 8 in Garhi Bala village, Sonipat. The site has been certified as free from encroachment and suitable for plantation of 100 saplings. The estimated cost of the compensatory afforestation scheme is Rs 1,47,728.The committee noted that the proposed diversion area does not form part of any protected area, eco-sensitive zone or wildlife corridor, and that no rare, endangered or unique species of flora or fauna had been reported from the site.
