Gurugram: Man fined for felling 36 trees near Dwarka E-way green belt near Sec 102A

Forest dept to file offence report; accused claims nod, officials deny. Inspection finds machinery use; vigilance to be stepped up

The forest department on Wednesday fined a 38-year-old man for allegedly felling around 36 trees near the green cover along Adani Oyster Grande society in Sector 102A, officials said, adding that a forest offence report (FOR) will be submitted to court.

Green belt land along expressway targeted; penalty to be finalised as residents flag week-long cutting, officials reject pruning claim (Parveen Kumar/HT)

Forest officials identified the accused, 38, as a resident of Dhanwapur. HT reached out to the accused, who claimed to have obtained prior permissions from the forest department. However, a senior official claimed that no prior permissions were sought from the department.

The land parcel is part of a 100-acre public green belt along the Dwarka Expressway corridor, designated for sports grounds, parks and water bodies under the Gurugram Manesar Urban Complex 2.

According to officials, privy to the matter, the penalty was imposed for unauthorised felling of trees on government land.Forest department officials said the penalty will be finalised by the divisional forest officer in the coming days, in accordance with due process.

Officials cite no prior permission, spot heavy equipment use; FOR to be filed as locals raise concern over encroachment risk. (Parveen Kumar/HT)

A senior forest department official said an inspection on Wednesday found trees uprooted, indicating use of heavy machinery and sharp tools. “Around 36 trees were removed with the intention of clearing the path. Our teams will conduct continued vigilance drives along the green cover,” the official said, requesting anonymity.

Meanwhile, a resident of Dhanwapur and an associate of the accused, claimed that saplings and branches were obstructing access to their adjoining land and said, “No trees were felled during the pruning work.” Forest department officials, however, rejected this claim.

Residents said tree cutting began about a week ago. “Since Friday last week, several men began drilling works and removed trees from the land reserved for a 24m wide road along the 100-acre green cover meant for the sports complex, water bodies and lakes in the master plan 2031,” said Alka Malhotra, vice president of Adani Oyster Grande’s residents’ welfare association (RWA).

During an HT spot check on Tuesday evening, workers were seen drilling and disposing of chopped branches. “On Thursday last week, an earthmover was deployed on the site to remove trees from the road leading to a school,” a local said, requesting anonymity.

Bharat Nain of the Dwarka Expressway Gurugram Development Association said weak enforcement risks encroachment. “The poor vigilance from the local authorities has allowed such activities to continue unchecked, further threatening the area’s green cover and environment degradation,” he said.

Sunil Sareen, deputy convenor, DXPGDA, said the green area is critical amid rising traffic and pollution. “The 100-acre green park needs to be developed… to improve air quality for thousands of residents,” he said.