A detailed survey by state authorities has exposed the massive scale of encroachments in the Aravallis, revealing that the protected forest range is now home to over 7,000 illegal structures. According to a report by The Tribune, these are not just minor encroachments but include high-end farmhouses with private helipads, banquet halls, private schools, and religious sites.
Key Findings of the Survey
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The Scale: Out of the 7,000 identified illegal structures, the majority are located in Gurugram, followed by Faridabad and Nuh.
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Elite Encroachers: The Raisina area in Sohna (Gurugram) is highlighted as a hub where the “who’s who” of the nation own swanky farmhouses, some even equipped with helipads.
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Other Hotspots:
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Gurugram: Gwalpahari, Abheypur, Gairatpur Bas, Sohna, and Manesar.
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Faridabad: Anangpur, Ankhir, Lakkarpur, and Mewla Maharajpur.
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Lack of Enforcement Despite the Supreme Court’s stringent orders to clear encroachments from land notified under the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), enforcement remains weak.
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Minimal Action: Official records show that action has been taken against only about one-third of the identified structures.
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Demolition Status: While over 780 acres of encroached land were identified in June 2025, only 241 major buildings have been razed so far.
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Ongoing Violations: Activists allege that despite frequent demolition drives, new construction materials (cement mixers, trucks) are regularly seen entering these areas. “Property agents openly sell farmhouses, and even government entities are converting forest land into dump yards,” stated Vaishali Rana Chandra of the Aravalli Bachao Trust.
Legal Context The Supreme Court had ruled in 2025 that all land notified under Section 4 of the PLPA has the attributes of a forest, prohibiting non-forest use without Central government approval. However, the state government has sought repeated extensions to implement demolition orders, citing the sheer scale of the issue.
