Dipak Kumar Dash, TNN | Dec 8, 2011, 12.51AM IST
NEW DELHI: After TOI highlighted the danger to Mangar village's sacred forest that encompasses rare Ridge vegetation, the Faridabad district administration has decided to identify the forest cover that needs to be protected in the area.
Faridabad deputy commissioner Rakesh Gupta told TOI, "There is a dire need to protect this region, which is ecologically sensitive. First, we will prepare a plan by superimposing satellite imagery to identify densely covered areas in Mangar. We will request the government to bring this zone under sections 4 and 6 of Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA)".
Areas notified under these two sections cannot be used for non-forestry activities without prior clearance of the Centre. Gupta said more such areas will be identified in the second phase of the survey. "We will send a strong case to Chandigarh to protect these green covers," the DC said.
At present, only 1,132 acres are covered under the PLPA sections in entire Mangar. A large portion of the sacred forest - Mangarbani - is still outside the PLPA.
Meanwhile, activists from around the world have floated an online petition for protecting forests in the Aravallis. Mission Gurgaon Development (MGD), a citizens' group that launched the movement, said the petition will be submitted to Union environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan. They are aiming to get at least 5,000 signatories to the campaign. Till Tuesday evening, 500 people had signed up.
The petitioners want the Haryana chief minister to cancel all construction plans in the Aravalli forests and have urged Natarajan to ask the Haryana government to "observe the law laid down by the Supreme Court on preservation of Aravallis' eco-structure and not sanction development in hilly forests, including Gualpahari in Gurgaon district and Mangarbani in Faridabad District."
Famous environmentalist and author of Trees of Delhi, Pradip Krishen, says, "Mangarbani is not just a tiny jewel on the edge of the NCR, it is a symbol of our will to protect important natural areas."
"India needs to retain all the green spaces; it can learn population control", and "India is going to need all the clean water it can get. Can't drink urban development," are some of the other comments online.
A Native American petitioner quoting Chief Seattle writes, "This we know: the earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. All things are connected like blood that unites us all. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself."
Col (retd) Sarvadaman Oberoi says that the petition is only one of the ways in which they are seeking support from citizens. "We are also prepared to knock the doors of the court if necessary".
NEW DELHI: After TOI highlighted the danger to Mangar village's sacred forest that encompasses rare Ridge vegetation, the Faridabad district administration has decided to identify the forest cover that needs to be protected in the area.
Faridabad deputy commissioner Rakesh Gupta told TOI, "There is a dire need to protect this region, which is ecologically sensitive. First, we will prepare a plan by superimposing satellite imagery to identify densely covered areas in Mangar. We will request the government to bring this zone under sections 4 and 6 of Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA)".
Areas notified under these two sections cannot be used for non-forestry activities without prior clearance of the Centre. Gupta said more such areas will be identified in the second phase of the survey. "We will send a strong case to Chandigarh to protect these green covers," the DC said.
At present, only 1,132 acres are covered under the PLPA sections in entire Mangar. A large portion of the sacred forest - Mangarbani - is still outside the PLPA.
Meanwhile, activists from around the world have floated an online petition for protecting forests in the Aravallis. Mission Gurgaon Development (MGD), a citizens' group that launched the movement, said the petition will be submitted to Union environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan. They are aiming to get at least 5,000 signatories to the campaign. Till Tuesday evening, 500 people had signed up.
The petitioners want the Haryana chief minister to cancel all construction plans in the Aravalli forests and have urged Natarajan to ask the Haryana government to "observe the law laid down by the Supreme Court on preservation of Aravallis' eco-structure and not sanction development in hilly forests, including Gualpahari in Gurgaon district and Mangarbani in Faridabad District."
Famous environmentalist and author of Trees of Delhi, Pradip Krishen, says, "Mangarbani is not just a tiny jewel on the edge of the NCR, it is a symbol of our will to protect important natural areas."
"India needs to retain all the green spaces; it can learn population control", and "India is going to need all the clean water it can get. Can't drink urban development," are some of the other comments online.
A Native American petitioner quoting Chief Seattle writes, "This we know: the earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. All things are connected like blood that unites us all. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself."
Col (retd) Sarvadaman Oberoi says that the petition is only one of the ways in which they are seeking support from citizens. "We are also prepared to knock the doors of the court if necessary".
कोई टिप्पणी नहीं:
एक टिप्पणी भेजें