Green activists oppose forest department’s approval for rally in Aravallis

The Haryana forest department’s approval for a five-day car rally, which is proposed to pass through the eco-sensitive Mangar Bani area, has raised objections from environmentalists.

The Haryana forest department’s approval for a five-day car rally, which is proposed to pass through the eco-sensitive Mangar Bani area, has raised objections from environmentalists.

The rally will pass through Bandhwari near Mangar village, Gurgaon-Faridabad road, Berhampur and Dumduma Lake. The rally will pass through areas close to Asola wildlife sanctuary too. (Abhinav Saha/HT Photo)

Activists say the event from September 14 to 18 will adversely affect the wildlife population as it will come in between the breeding season.

“The forest in Haryana was never considered as forest. Dumping of waste still continues in the Aravallis. Now, if this car rally is conducted in the Aravallis, it will destroy the natural habitat of wild animals. Which will led to rise in man-animal conflict,” said Vivek Kamboj of Haryali, NGO.

The Sports Route Trust -- a trust registered under Section 60 in May 2015 for the purpose of promotion and safety of motor sports in India -- requested the district administration to conduct the rally in the Aravalis.

The request was forwarded to forest department. Though the department initially denied permission, the administration asked to reconsider the decision and eventually the approval was given, sources said.

The proposal of the trust stated that the route 30-km route from Bandhwari to Dumduma lake is suitable for the MRF Indian National Rally Championship. The rally will cover 210 km in five days, Satyan Kochhan, trustee, said in the proposal letter.

The rally will pass through Bandhwari near Mangar village, Gurgaon-Faridabad road, Berhampur and Dumduma Lake. The rally will pass through areas close to Asola wildlife sanctuary too.

“We have received the permission and will be conducting the rally. The route which the rally will take is not eco-fragile, as the cars will be travelling on roads not inside the forest,” Kochhan told HT.

In the approval letter, the forest department has stipulated tough terms for the proposed rally.

The department has asked for a heavy bank deposit, banned honking and restricted movement of vehicles before sunrise and sunset.

Mangar Bani is considered as the last remaining virgin forest area of Delhi-NCR. The bani is a block of forest area with dense tree cover that falls within Mangar and Bandhwari villages. The forest is protected by villagers over the years.

Activists said they will move the court. “Instead of conserving the Aravallis, which is the job of the local administration and the official titled conservator of forests, the district administration has allowed a car rally in this last remaining forest of Delhi-NCR. Aravallis, by the admission of this very forest department, are home to several species of wildlife, including Schedule I animals under the Wildlife Protection Act (1972). The area has to be protected under Supreme Court directives. We will ensure that this rally sanctioned by a delinquent authority is not allowed,” Amit Chaudhery, president, People for Animal (PFA), Gurgaon, said.

The area comes under section 4&5 of Punjab Land Preservation Act Act which states that non-forest activity is not permissible in the area. However, the forest department’s approval despite all this shows the state’s commitment towards protecting the Aravallis, an environmentalist said.

When HT enquired about the reason for giving approval for the rally, a forest official said, “The rally will promote Haryana tourism and people will get to know that the state has forest cover.”