Aravalli villagers fear land loss over kilabandi

The Haryana government's decision to undertake kilabandi, or demarcation of land into smaller plots, in Kot village in Faridabad’s Aravalli stretch has revived concerns among villagers and environmentalists that village common land in the hills could eventually pass into private hands.

- Jayashree Nandi

Officials, however, insist the exercise is only to establish a uniform measurement system and does not involve land consolidation.Kot village, surrounded by rocky hills and dry deciduous scrub forests, lies in a relatively intact stretch of the Aravallis in the NCR. An October 30 notification issued by the Directorate of Consolidation of Holdings, Haryana, proposed consolidation-related proceedings in the village, including kilabandi to bring all land under a uniform measurement system — kanal and marla.

While the notification states that “gair mumkin pahar”, or uncultivable hilly land, will not be consolidated, it allows kilabandi even in these areas, which has alarmed residents.