Did sarpanch help build mining road via protected Aravalis? Haryana govt panel to probe
Gurgaon: The Haryana govt on Wednesday set up a high-powered committee to investigate the role of the sarpanch of Basai Meo village in the illegal construction of two roads through protected Aravali forest land near the Rajasthan border, an area that has been under Supreme Court's scanner since a hillock collapsed.
The roads, built in Oct 2024, are believed to have been used by miners to transport illegally quarried stones from Nuh's Basai Meo to stone-crushing units in Rajasthan. In Nov 2024, villagers had filed a complaint, accusing the sarpanch of aiding miners by facilitating construction of the road, which also gave them access to Rawa in Haryana where the hillock was taken down with explosive charges last Dec. A separate probe by the Anti-Corruption Bureau is already under way.
The newly formed committee includes the divisional commissioner of Gurgaon and the deputy commissioner and subdivisional magistrate of Nuh. It will examine whether the sarpanch violated rules in facilitating or overseeing road construction and is required to submit its report within 45 days.
"The roads are illegal and we have already shut them down by constructing a wall so that movement of vehicles stops. We are also planning to carry out a plantation drive in 15 to 20 days to restore the area.
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We will investigate how these roads were constructed and who was responsible," Nuh deputy commissioner Vishram Kumar Meena told TOI.
"We are also planning a series of actions to ensure that no such illegal roads are built in Aravalis. Without consolidation, the roads can't be made. It was the work of mining mafia and some locals, but we will investigate the matter thoroughly. The land comes under sections 4 and 5 of PLPA (Punjab Land Preservation Act, which restricts construction in Aravali forests)," he added.
The committee will recommend strict preventive action if wrongdoing is established and is also expected to suggest systemic reforms to bolster the oversight mechanism of gram panchayats in Aravali hills and forested areas. The committee has been asked to review recommendations from the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) on compensation or alternative land arrangements, likely arising from the environmental impact or displacement caused by the road.
This move comes amid growing concern over encroachments and unregulated construction in the Aravalis, which act as a natural barrier against desertification of Delhi-NCR.
After a petition by Basai Meo villagers came up before SC, it directed CEC to inspect the site. In its report, CEC confirmed the violations and recommended action against erring officials. Last month, the chief secretary filed an affidavit that said the state's forest department did not act against violations.
But SC disagreed, and in its hearing on May 29, pulled up the chief secretary for "passing the buck" to the forest department.
"It appears that (mining) mafia is strong enough to protect not only its members but also the officers of the state govt who acted in collusion with them," Chief Justice of India B R Gavai said. But miners are undeterred. The road that was originally blocked by the forest department months ago was rebuilt. On June 2, officials and blocked it again.
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