Herbal-cum-multipurpose projects hang fire, courtesy administration inaction

The initiative launched by the civic body to develop herbal-cum-multipurpose parks or gardens within the civic limits have been hanging fire due to no clearance or approval from the Forest Department, according to sources in the department.

The civic body has been unable to start work on two such projects proposed in the last two years, sources said.

The proposal submitted by the authorities of the Municipal Corporation of Faridabad (MCF) for developing a herbal garden on about 10 acres on the Surajkund road here at a cost of Rs 15 crore has been lying in files due to the non-approval of the project by the Environment and Forests Department of the state government, according to sources.

“While the aim of the move had been to promote the cultivation and preservation of herbal and medicinal plants, the land selected had been lying in the midst of nature where residents could be provided the facility of not only enjoying nature but also the importance of having medicinal plants in their vicinity,” said an official of the civic administration.

As the lack of adequate space made the civic body choose the large area in the Surajkund area, the condition of acquiring the no objection certificate (NOC) from the Forest Department has led to the problem. Hundreds of acres, belonging to the MCF in the city, come under the Punjab Land and Forest Preservation Act (PLPA Act 1900), according to officials. Though the matter has been pushed on several occasions, a positive response is awaited, it was claimed.

Another similar project proposed to develop a multipurpose garden on over 60 acres at Khori village near Surajkund has also been lying stuck on such grounds, according to sources. The area had been lying vacant and unused after the removal of encroachments in June 2021 on the directions of the Supreme Court. The area has also been covered under the PLPA Act. Though around 30,000 trees have been planted in the last two years, the land is still susceptible to encroachments by the dwellers who had been removed by the civic body under a major operation two years ago. With no work taken up and the land laying vacant, the civic body has to carry out drives to keep the area free of encroachments at regular intervals, the sources said.

Birender Kardam, Chief Engineer, MCF, said the garden projects worth Rs 40 crore proposed to be launched on the available land in the city have been submitted to the authorities, including the Forest Department for formal approval.

Nod awaited from 2 departments

• The civic body has been unable to start work on two such projects proposed in the last two years.
• The proposal submitted by the authorities of the Municipal Corporation of Faridabad (MCF) for developing a herbal garden on about 10 acres on the Surajkund road here at a cost of Rs 15 crore has been lying in files due to the non-approval of the project by the Environment and Forests Department of the state government.