They object to the exclusion of the words ‘Aravalli’ and ‘Forest Area’ from the Natural Conservation Area.
A five-member group, comprising a retired Indian Forest Service officer, an urban planner and an environmental analyst, has offered objections to the draft Regional Plan-2041. They expressed apprehensions that the proposed plan would “significantly reduce forest cover, reduce wildlife habitat, increase air pollution and open up indiscriminate flooding of real estate in the Aravallis”.
The National Capital Region Planning Board had sought objections and suggestions from the public till January 7 on the draft RP-2041.
Raising a dozen objections to the plan from the perspective of regional land use, conservation and forests, the group has strongly opposed the exclusion of the words “Aravallis” and “forest areas” from the Natural Conservation Zone (NCZ). “The Aravallis were an integral part of the NCZ in the present Zonal Plan-2021. The word ‘Aravali’ has been dropped from the draft RP-2041, leaving them open to unlimited real estate creation. Similarly, the phrase “forest area” has also been dropped from the NCZ. This will significantly reduce the forest cover eligible for NCZ zoning protection,” the group said.
The group has also objected to the replacement of the word “Natural Conservation Area” with “Natural Area” in the draft under RP-2021.
Although the area under forest has declined as per the draft RP-2041 from 4.02% stated in RP-2021 to 3.27%, the conservation of forests has been further reduced in the draft plan.
RP-2021 limits construction in the NCZ by both purpose (regional recreational activities only) and extent (0.5%), although this zoning regulation has been removed in the draft RP-2041. Expressing strong objection to this, the members of the group demanded to retain it. “It will be important to clearly state in RP-2041 that Mangar Bani and 500 meters of it is a no-construction zone,” the group said.
Arguing that the draft RP-2041 was “incomplete” and “inconsistent” with the requirements of the NCRPB Act 1985, the group demanded that it be updated and shunned for public comments.