Politicos oblivious to Mangar’s green woes

Residents of Mangar village, set in the Aravalis on Gurgaon-Faridabad Road, have been up in arms against the government’s development plan which envisages clearing of massive forests. But a slew of senior politicians, who took turns to glorify the state government’s initiatives during the Janmashtami celebrations on Saturday, appeared oblivious of their cause.

Residents of Mangar village, set in the Aravalis on Gurgaon-Faridabad Road, have been up in arms against the government’s development plan which envisages clearing of massive forests. But a slew of senior politicians, who took turns to glorify the state government’s initiatives during the Janmashtami celebrations on Saturday, appeared oblivious of their cause.

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Congress MP from Rohtak Deepender Singh Hooda and Pandit Shiv Charan Lal Sharma, Haryana minister of state for labour and employment, information, public relations and cultural affairs, were accompanied by several local MLAs.

Both the senior politicians maintained they didn't know much about the Mangar draft development plan (DDP) 2031 released by the Haryana government on May 17, which the villagers are opposing tooth and nail. The DDP, released for objections, has been receiving adverse responses from residents, activists and villagers.

The villagers not only attach environmental significance to the Mangarbani forests but also consider it sacred.

“We will not hesitate to stop axing of trees even physically,” said Sunil Hashana of the Mangar Village Development Committee. Sarpanch Sukhram also appealed to the politicians.