The National Green Tribunal asked for a response from the Delhi government on allegations of misuse of forest land in Kharkhari Jatmal village under Najafgarh. The National Green Tribunal has asked the Delhi Government and others involved to respond regarding alleged misuse of forest land in Kharkhari Jatmal village under Najafgarh. According to reports, the land was part of the area originally planned for afforestation. It had been encroached by land mafias, which they had used for haphazard construction and unauthorized agricultural activities. It then moved an order dated January 2, seeking that the respondents who were impleaded in the matter be provided with an opportunity to file their response by April 22, the date of the next hearing of the tribunal presided over by NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava.
Land allocation for afforestation
The land is a part of a 125-bigha (approximately 30 hectares) plot that was allotted to the forest department in 2005. It was approved by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi as a measure to control pollution, enhance green cover, and contribute towards environmental conservation. The afforestation project was aimed at improving the ecological balance in the area and providing a green buffer against pollution in the region.
This is a protest against it in the guise that the lands reserved for afforestation have been misused. The case under investigation is alleged to have stated that a plot has been invaded by land mafias who began illegal constructions on the said piece of land. Besides, this complaint states that agricultural activities are illegally done on the plot, further exacerbating the misusing of the land assigned to environmental conservation.
Undocumented Agricultural Activities Done on the Land
A new and unrelated concern with this petition filed in front of NGT is the alleged incomplete demarcation of land. According to this petition, this land has never been properly identified and marked for which unauthorize activities have gone on there in the name of demarcated land. Not only this but the illegal extraction of groundwater is sold here against environment rules.
There is an alarming perception regarding the detrimental effects of the activities on the environment. Water resources are also depleted due to ground-water extraction, which further affects local ecosystems and the community. Alteration of the area’s ecological functions such as mitigation of pollution and biodiversity enhancement might be caused by the encroachment and construction upon the forest land.
NGT Orders Response from Delhi Government and Other Authorities
In the order, NGT bench has directed the concerned authorities to place their response on the allegations levied by this petition. Among the parties of the respondent of this case are state of Delhi as well as their respective members a deputy conservator of forest also of the department of forest and wildlife with Subdivisional magistrate over the concerned region. The NGT has now directed these authorities to file their response by way of an affidavit at least a week before the date of the next hearing, which is on April 22.
This is an order of NGT where land encroachment and, consequently, degradation has become a burning issue in nearly all urban settlements across India. Taking the liability away from the people who have been indulging in the wrong activities over the misuse of the so-called Najafgarh forestland besides making sure that utilization of the area in question occurs within its expectations that include afforestation and environmental protection.
Environmental Impact of Wrong Use of Land
Misuse of forest land of the Kharkhari Jatmal village will certainly damage the environmental system. For increasing greenery, improving atmospheric quality, and reducing climate changes, this project of afforestation will be significantly important. Since the forests are important absorbents of carbon dioxide, help prevent soil erosion, and salvage biodiversity, no encroachment on forest land coupled with unauthorized misuse for construction purposes and agriculture should be allowed at any cost which will only mar the basic functions of ecology performed by these areas and further downgrade the environment.
Apart from this loss of green cover, the region can face water scarcity also as a byproduct due to illegal extraction of groundwater and may cause a problem related to human and environmental health. In most urban areas of India, the depletion of groundwater is a matter of concern with substantial pressure on the available water supply due to rapid development and over-extraction of this resource.
Legal and Administrative Accountability
This is an implication that the legal and administrative accountability of lands allocated for environmental purposes has to be ensured. NGT, in this case, has directed the Delhi government and other concerned authorities to respond to the allegations of misusing the land and take corrective measures, if necessary. The role of NGT is crucial in ensuring that such matters do not violate the integrity of environmental protection endeavors and that such violations are treated in accordance with the law and in matters dealing with land use and its conservation.
Then, however, the Delhi government along with concerned forest and wildlife departments have to spell out the status of the land and initiate measures that ensure such a misuse does not take place again. This would include demarcation of the land properly, checking encroachment, and working towards stopping unauthorized activities on the land. In addition, the authorities would need to check on activities of groundwater extraction and ensure all such activities occur with due observance of environmental regulations.
Conclusion
A related issue of land encroachment and illegal activities in areas assigned for afforestation presented itself before the public through an alleged case of misappropriation of forest land at Kharkhari Jatmal village. An intervention by the NGT would remind one to ensure proper management of land, effective implementation of environmental law for the protection of natural resources of the country-a welcome move. Therefore, in the course of the case, it will be inevitable to return land to the purpose of afforestation and environmental conservation, paying much attention to the ecological health of the region.
Source: PTI and related news sources.