Gurugram, July 17: Amid intensifying protests and public outrage over the demolition of homes in Faridabad’s Anangpur village, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Thursday assured residents that their concerns will be placed before the Supreme Court through the state’s Coordination Committee.
Speaking after a meeting with villagers and local leaders at the PWD Rest House in Gurugram, Saini said, “The state government fully respects and honours the orders of the Supreme Court regarding Anangpur village. Public representatives have met us. We, as a government, believe in building homes, not destroying them.”
The meeting was attended by Union Minister of State Krishan Pal Gurjar, former minister and Ballabhgarh MLA Mool Chand Sharma, NIT Faridabad MLA Satish Fagna, Badkhal MLA Dhanesh Adlakha, and several dignitaries from Anangpur.
Saini’s remarks come just days after a joint mahapanchayat was held in Anangpur on July 13, where villagers demanded a halt to the demolitions and compensation for razed homes, arguing the structures were part of long-standing settlements and local heritage.
The ongoing demolition drive stems from a 2022 Supreme Court judgment in the Narinder Singh vs Divesh Bhutani case, which upheld that land notified under Section 4 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA) must be treated as forest land. The court had reaffirmed a 2013 National Green Tribunal order that barred non-forest activities on such land, mandating strict enforcement of forest protection laws.
Despite the order, state action had remained minimal until recently. Since the ruling, about 30 structures have been demolished across four villages—Anangpur, Ankhir, Lakkarpur, and Mewla Maharajpur. A ground truthing survey conducted by the state in December 2023 revealed 6,793 unauthorised constructions on forest-notified land, with Anangpur alone accounting for 5,948 structures.
Many of the structures are reportedly farmhouses and banquet halls, built in violation of the Forest (Conservation) Act. The sudden spike in enforcement has triggered anxiety and backlash among affected residents, who say they were not given adequate time or clarity.
“The people’s emotions are real, and their voices will be heard,” Saini assured. “We are committed to conveying those sentiments to the court while respecting its directives.”
