Haryana razes 241 structures in Faridabad in first phase of drive

{ SUPREME COURT RULING ON PLPA VIOLATIONS

- Hitender Rao

The Haryana government has demolished 241 structures spread over an area of about 261 acres in four villages of Ankhir, Mewla Maharajpur, Lakkarpur Khori and Anangpur in Faridabad during the first phase of the demolition drive.

The demolitions have been done in compliance with a 2022 Supreme Court (SC) directive to remove unauthorised structures built on land parcels protected by the special orders issued under Section 4 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA).

A total of 6,793 unauthorised structures were identified by the authorities in four Faridabad villages spread across 786.26 acres with the aid of drone and satellite imagery and subsequent ground truthing.

They were categorised into five broad categories - farmhouses and banquet halls; temples, ashrams, gaushalas; government establishments; educational institutions and small dwelling units.

The SC in its July 21, 2022 judgment had held that the land covered by the special orders issued under Section 4 of PLPA have all the protection allowed to forest land within the meaning of section 2 of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and, therefore the state government cannot permit their use for non-forest activities without the prior approval of the Central government with effect from October 25, 1980.

The apex court had also ordered that illegal structures on such land should be removed.

The SC order pertained to Anangpur, Ankhir, Mewla Maharajpur and Lakkarpur Khori villages of Faridabad.

The apex court on April 17, 2025, extended the time to comply with its 2022 directions till July 31, 2025, asking the state authorities to file a compliance report in the first week of August with a copy to the central empowered committee (CEC) of the SC. The CEC will examine the compliance and submit a report to the apex court by the end of August 2025.

Anangpur village has maximum violations