Haryana — The Haryana government has demolished 241 unauthorized structures spanning approximately 261 acres in four villages of Faridabad—Ankhir, Mewla Maharajpur, Lakkarpur Khori, and Anangpur—as part of the first phase of a demolition drive. This action aligns with a 2022 Supreme Court (SC) directive to remove illegal constructions on land protected under Section 4 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), which safeguards ecologically sensitive areas in the Aravalli range.
Using advanced drone and satellite imagery, coupled with ground verification, authorities identified 6,793 unauthorized structures across 786.26 acres in these villages. These structures were categorized into five groups: farmhouses and banquet halls, temples, ashrams, gaushalas, government establishments, educational institutions, and small dwelling units. The demolitions, which began in early 2025, targeted a mix of these categories, prioritizing structures deemed to have the most significant environmental impact, such as large farmhouses and commercial setups.
In its landmark July 21, 2022, ruling, the Supreme Court held that lands covered by special orders under Section 4 of the PLPA are entitled to the same protections as forest land under Section 2 of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. The court clarified that non-forest activities, such as construction, on these lands have required prior Central government approval since October 25, 1980. The SC ordered the immediate removal of all illegal structures in the specified Faridabad villages, emphasizing the need to preserve the Aravalli ecosystem, which serves as a critical green lung for the National Capital Region (NCR).
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On April 17, 2025, the Supreme Court extended the compliance deadline for its 2022 directive to July 31, 2025, due to logistical challenges reported by the Haryana government, including the scale of demolitions and the need for precise identification of illegal structures. The court directed state authorities to submit a detailed compliance report in the first week of August 2025, with a copy to the Central Empowered Committee (CEC). The CEC, tasked with overseeing environmental compliance, will review the report and submit its findings to the apex court by the end of August 2025.
The demolition drive has sparked mixed reactions. Environmentalists have hailed it as a crucial step toward protecting the Aravalli range, which faces threats from illegal encroachments and mining activities. However, some residents of small dwelling units in the affected villages have expressed concerns over displacement, urging the government to provide rehabilitation measures. The Haryana government has stated that it is exploring options for affected families, though no formal rehabilitation plan has been announced.
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The ongoing efforts are part of a broader initiative to restore PLPA-protected lands, which play a vital role in groundwater recharge and biodiversity conservation in the region. The state government has indicated that subsequent phases of demolitions will target the remaining unauthorized structures, with a focus on minimizing ecological damage during the process.
Sources:
- Supreme Court of India, Judgment dated July 21, 2022, in Civil Appeal No. 4381 of 2022.
- Haryana Government Compliance Reports, as submitted to the Supreme Court and Central Empowered Committee, 2025.
- The Hindu, “Haryana begins demolition of illegal structures in Faridabad’s Aravalli region,” July 2025.
- Times of India, “SC extends deadline for PLPA violation compliance in Faridabad,” April 18, 2025.