NEW DELHI: The Haryana mining department has struck down the state forest department's proposal to bring areas adjacent to the Mangar sacred grove in the Aravallis in Faridabad under the "preservation" zone.
Reasoning that Mangar area is "replete with high-quality construction material", the mining and geology department chief has claimed that the state cannot "afford" to lose the `lucrative' area.
If the mining department manages to prevail upon the state government, mining will be allowed close to the Mangar Bani, which local villagers have been protecting for centuries. The state government has been pushing for early nod for mining of construction material in the Aravallis since the Supreme Court banned mining in May, 2009.
Earlier this year, the forest department had moved a proposal to bring around 3,600 acres - under Section 4&5 notification of the Punjab Land Preservation (PLPA) Act - around the sacred forest. Areas notified under these two sections cannot be used for non-forestry activities without the Centre's prior clearance. The plan was recommended by the chief conservator (forest) and then cleared by the state forest minister.
In July, the additional chief secretary (forests & wildlife) sought opinions of mines and geology secretary Y S Malik since most of the areas proposed by the forest department for notification are "mineral bearing".
Objecting to the proposal, Malik wrote in July, "The area is replete with high quality construction material (minor mineral like stone-quartzite) and also contains reserves of silica sand, a major mineral." The secretary has also cited that the Supreme Court has already permitted the state to undertake mining of minerals over 600 hectares, which includes Mangar.
"If this area is regulated under Section-4&5 of the PLPA, the obvious consequence is denial of any mining operations over these areas, which the sate can ill afford," the note says.
The forest department had come out with the proposal after a district-level committee headed by then deputy commissioner of Faridabad had concluded that all the natural vegetation and the Aravallis, including Bani, should be prohibited for non-forestry activities in the Mangar Plan 2031, and the area should be designated as a conservation and groundwater recharge zone.
Subsequently, the deputy commissioner had directed the forest department to prepare a case for notifying the entire Aravalli and forest-like areas covered under the PLPA so that they can be removed from the development plan.
The state-level committee, which approved the Mangar development plan, had rejected similar move to push the proposal for allowing a mega tourism complex in Mangar.
"It appears that the assistant mining engineer (Faridabad) has signed the inspection note without realizing the implications, especially when the proposal was mooted at the instance of the then deputy commissioner," Malik wrote in his reply.
Times View
Short-sighted decision
To argue in favour of allowing mining in this part of the Aravalis on the ground that it is rich in construction material is stunningly short-sighted. Even the Supreme Court has had occasion to express concern on the extent to which damage has been done to the ecosystem in these areas. The fact that such an argument is being made even given that context suggests that the battle to save the Aravalis is far from over. The Haryana government needs to listen to its own forest department rather than to its mining department or the powerful quarrying lobby in the state. This is necessary to prevent irreparable damage not only to Haryana's environment, but to Delhi's as well. The Aravalis prevent the desert from spreading north. Let's not undermine their ability to do so.
Mangarbani Sacred Grove:-
The Art and Craft Hotel raises a few eyebrows just before we enter the village. Builders are already in possession of Dream plans to convert the ancient village of Mangarbani into a "Tourist Paradise", the Hotel is probably waiting for those Dreams to take wings.
Entrance to Mangarbani
At this sleepy village of about 300 hamlets we ask our way to the Bani. As we reach Bani, the three soldiers from Mangarbani village who started the fight to save Mangarbani against seemingly odd barriers, greet us. We, a few friends who learnt about Mangarbani through the film "The Lost Forest", had decided to devote the Sunday Morning to see the forest for ourselves.
"Heavenly'" " So cool'" "Longest tailed peacock" "Beautiful bird sounds" remarks kept coming as we walked. The residents pitched in with their knowledge of the Bani. The first and last rule of the Bani " Do not pluck or cut anything from the Bani. If you graze your animals inside, you raise the wrath of Gudanya Baba whose Samadhi in a cave is worshipped by the villagers.
Broken Kadamb branch-Remove it at your peril!
Here is an excerpt from the magazine "Down To Earth"
---What sets the Bani apart from the surrounding vegetation is that 95 per cent of it comprises a slow growing tree called Dhau (Anogeissus pendula). The tree has a unique feature. If it is nibbled by cattle, it spreads out on the ground or over rocks like thick prostrate undergrowth. If left undisturbed, it grows into a middle-sized tree. The 13-meter-tall dhaus in Mangar Bani testify to the forest’s antiquity, points out Pradip Krishen, the author of Trees of Delhi. ......
Sacred grove of Dhau trees seen from temple top
We saw Desi papri trees, Vat and Dhok trees , Seetaphal trees and Kadamb trees which were fruiting and Dhau, the endemic tree of the area which were sprouting all over after the rains.
Fruit of Kadamb tree
Sweet fruit of Seeta Phal tree
Dhau sprouting through rocks
Take the Dhau outside Mangarbani and they refuse to grow. The Dhau is believed to be one large organism in Managrbani which propagates through root grown saplings only. Untouched by the British ( The British never discovered this village tucked away in the interior, according to locals) and the Forest Department, Vilayati Keekar is absent in the village. No bougainvillas and no lantana bushes are seen anywhere. The Forest has remained natural as it was 3000 years ago. A Natural Museum worth presrving for the next generation!
Under the shade of ancient trees
Mangarbani, a serene forest
Besides the Bani being the Preserve of fauna and flora endemic to the
Aravalis (probably the only patch in Rajasthan-Haryana-Delhi, where
Aravalis have survived in their original glory), this unspoilt forest is
most likely responsible for water recharging and safeguarding water
veins underground. Destroy this vegetation cover, build on it and we
could end up blocking/destroying any number of water veins under those
impenetrable rock-systems.
Gurgaon and Faridabad have seen Surajkund, Badkhal and Dumdama lakes
disappear within the last 25-30 years, once vegetation in Aravalis was
destroyed and hilllsides dug up for minerals/stones for construction
and/or levelled for putting up buildings. The ban by the Supreme Court
on all mining cant restore those water bodies, they are gone for ever.
Will the Gurgaon-Faridabad-Delhi residents let the unspoilt Aravalis in
and around Manger Bani disappear? They could be destroying the most
important water-recharge System/Preserve that could have sustained the
coming generations by providing much needed elixir of life 'WATER'
SAVE THE ARAVALIS THAT WE STILL HAVE------REHABILITATING THEM MAY BE
BEYOND ALL OF US. AFTER ALL THESE MOUNTAINS TOOK MILLIONS OF YEARS TO
BECOME OUR BENEFICIARIES------
Listen to the young men from Mangarbani making an appeal
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