Minister goes looking for Aravalli ‘forest’

The Union minister for environment, forest and climate change (MOEF) Prakash Javadekar on Monday conducted an aerial survey of the forest cover in Gurgaon and Mewat districts of Haryana, with a view to understand the Aravallis range.

The definition of ‘forests’ in the Haryana has been a bone of contention for the last two decades. Earlier this month, a committee that includes members of MOEF, National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) and Ministry of Urban Development had come up with a proposal to define the Aravallis and it was mooted that crown density should be increased from the existing 10% to 30% . This would have meant that large tracts of Aravallis which are scrub forest would have been excluded from the forest zone.

After environmentalists cried foul over the proposal, Javadekar announced that he would visit the area to get better clarity.

The red and white seven-seater helicopter was seen hovering over the Aravallis to get a glimpse of the green cover in the region. The minister landed in Firozepur Jhirka, Shamshuddin Park in Mewat district around 11:30 am.

Javadekar took an aerial survey of Anangpur mining lakes, Khori mining sites, Badkhal, Pali crusher zone, Mohabtabad mining lake, Mangar Bani, Bandhwari, Kot, Damdama lake, Rozka Gurjar, Raisina, Bhondsi, Gairatpur Bas, Kota Khandeola and Jhir forest.

On reaching Firozepur Jhirka, the minister planted saplings of frankincense — one of the three gifts brought to baby Jesus by the three wise men and also offered prayers at Jhir temple, which is believed to date back to the

Mahabharata era.

After the aerial survey, the minister said the focus would be on sustainable development. “We understand the importance of Aravallis in the region. This green patch has helped Delhi and North India to stay away from desertification. These forests have a historical importance and, before taking any decision further regarding the forest issue, we will consider the ecological significance of the area,” Javadekar said.

Though he remained silent on the question of defining ‘forest’, he stressed that development should not be on the cost of green lungs.

Asked about the approval of the draft to increase crown density criteria of forest cover from 10% to 30%, he said, “Our decision will not affect Aravallis”.

According to the 2014 draft of the Forest Survey of India, states which a forest cover less than the national average of 33%, should classify areas in their region even with less than 1% crown density and scrub forests (0-10% forest cover) as forest. However, the current draft has no mention of scrub forests.

Experts are of the opinion that the 1997 Samatha case judgment of the Supreme Court —that gave an extended meaning of forests to include pastures and under gowth along with trees -- has also been ignored in the new draft and it does not consider plantations as forests.