Chandigarh, Dec. 18: The National Green Tribunal on Thursday ordered an interim stay on the Punjab government’s policy allowing approval and regularisation of low-impact green habitats, including farmhouses, in the lower Shivalik hills adjoining forest areas.
The stay will remain in force until the next hearing on Feb. 4.
The policy covers nearly 55,000 hectares of land that was earlier taken out of the purview of the Punjab Land Preservation Act, 1900, and recently notified for farmhouse construction.
The tribunal passed the order on a petition filed by Kapil Dev, who argued that the policy violated Supreme Court directions governing the use of land delisted from the PLPA.
“The Supreme Court permitted delisting only for bona fide agricultural use and sustainable livelihood,” the petitioner said. “Commercial activity was clearly barred, but the new policy opens the door for commercial permissions.”
The petitioner contended that the policy would primarily benefit influential individuals, including politicians and serving and retired bureaucrats, by enabling the regularisation of illegal structures.
Environmentalists have warned that the affected land abuts forests with rich biodiversity and forms part of the fragile kandi belt of the Shivalik Hills, stretching from Mohali to Pathankot.
