The Haryana forest department has asked the Rapid Metro Rail Gurgaon Limited (RMRG) to stop work on a portion of land which falls under the notified protected forest area.
According to the forest department, the rapid rail project has still not sought approval from them for the use of forest land, thus violating the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and the Indian Forest Act, 1927.
When contacted, Devender Rao, district range officer, said, “They have applied for the Metro route diversion from forest land but the approval is awaited.”
RMRG spokesperson said, “We had got land from HUDA and it was HUDA’s responsibility to look into clearance issues.”
The forest department, meanwhile, has asked the district revenue department to demarcate the forest area as early as possible.