Government Forms Aravalli Patrolling Force Amid Alarming Increase in Fires

Amid growing concerns over repeated fire incidents in the Aravalli range, the Haryana Government has announced the formation of a special patrolling unit to tackle the crisis threatening this fragile ecosystem.

The past two weeks have seen more than 50 fire incidents reported across Aravalli forests in Gurugram, Faridabad, and Nuh districts. While officials initially blamed rising temperatures for the fires, local environmentalists and residents have a different theory. They allege these are deliberate land-grabbing attempts, particularly around the Bandhwari landfill, where scattered waste is making the situation worse. Fed up with inadequate response from local authorities, residents and environmental activists have now approached the state government, threatening protests if immediate action isn't taken.

"The Forest Minister himself lives in Gurugram and is oblivious to the crisis. The jungle is being deliberately burnt. It's not just humans who are choking, but also the animals. Has anybody cared to check the impact on over 50 leopards living in the forest or other animals? It's all being done to get more land for the Bandhwari landfill, which has already encroached on the forest," said local environmentalist. 

Responding to these allegations, Forest Minister Rao Narbir Singh stated "I have not just marked an inquiry into this but even ordered the constitution of special forest patrolling teams to check on the causes of fire and report. I have also written to the ULB Minister to look into the menace being created by the landfill. We will resolve this." The minister's assurances have failed to convince many activists, some activists dismissed it as "a mere eyewash."

"We have repeatedly been highlighting how, to reduce the height of Bandhwari, the garbage is being spread in the forest by both Municipal Corporations of Gurugram and Faridabad. They have no plan or way to treat the waste, so they are setting it on fire to burn it down. The trees are getting burnt, land is being cleared for further encroachment, and everybody sits with shut eyes," Bhadana alleged.

Adding to these concerns is the damage now reaching Mangar Bani, the only surviving patch of virgin forest in the region. Conservationist and local resident Sunil Harsana said: "The Aravallis never faced so many fires, as the forest traditionally has no history of such incidents. The situation has worsened over the past two weeks with regular fires. We local villagers are working with fire authorities and forest officials to deal with the menace."

 

 

 

 

 

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