Gurugram: Wildlife Department to Issue Notices for Illegal Constructions Near Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary

Gurugram, Jan 17 (NationPress) The Wildlife Department is preparing to issue notices to more than 100 owners of illegal constructions that have arisen within the restricted vicinity of the Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary in Gurugram.

The department has reached out to the Tehsildar for details regarding individuals engaged in unauthorized building activities.

Upon receiving this information, formal notices will be dispatched to all offenders, demanding the removal of their illegal structures within a 15-day timeframe. Following this, a demolition operation will be initiated.

It is important to note that any form of construction is strictly prohibited within a 5 km radius of the Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary, situated along the Jhajjar-Farrukhnagar Road.

In defiance of this, various builders have unlawfully erected over 100 structures, including farmhouses and residential societies.

A survey conducted last year by the department uncovered that more than 100 construction projects were executed without the necessary approvals from the Ministry of Environment within the 5 km restricted zone of the sanctuary. This includes nine residential societies, a significant number of farmhouses, and even a school.

The Central Government has classified the Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary as an Eco-Sensitive Zone-1 (an area of high environmental sensitivity). Consequently, any construction within a 5 km radius is entirely banned.

The Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department granted licenses to nine builders to establish group housing societies, with the stipulation that they secure a no objection certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Environment.

However, several builders proceeded with construction in the restricted area without obtaining the required permissions.

The survey also suggested possible collusion among officials from the relevant department, as the TCP Department approved plans for nine societies in this area without verifying the NOC. Many of these societies have even received occupancy certificates, allowing approximately 7,000 families to reside in the constructed flats.

Following the wildlife department's survey, construction activities at two societies have been halted.

These societies, developed under the Affordable Housing Policy, comprise around 1,500 flats and are located in the villages of Dhorka, Wazirpur, and Gopalpur.

RK Jangra, the Wildlife Officer in Gurugram, stated, "Measures will be taken promptly against illegal structures within five kilometers of Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary. A formal request has been sent to the Tehsildar to identify the owners of these constructions. Notices will follow upon acquiring accurate details about the respective owners."