Gurgaon: The forest department has objected to the mining department allowing disposal of 500 metric tonnes of stone excavated from protected Aravali land at Badkhal, saying neither excavation nor removal can be allowed without its clearances.In a letter to the district mining officer, the deputy conservator of forests in Faridabad said the mining department had granted permission on Aug 17 for disposal of stone from the tourism department’s land at Badkhal. The specific khasra numbers cited in the permission fall under the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), the forest department said.It said the permission could not legally facilitate excavation or removal of minerals from land under its protection and jurisdiction. The mining department was asked to withdraw or recall the permission. No excavation, removal, transportation or disposal of stone should be allowed until the required forest permissions and statutory approvals are obtained, it clarified.The objection came days after TOI found two excavators operating on the rocky terrain during a ground visit. Large stretches had been stripped of vegetation and extensive rock excavation was visible across the 25 acre tract, which is protected under sections 4 and 5 of the PLPA and lies in the Aravali landscape.The forest department had then clarified that no permission had been sought from it. A team visited the site after learning about the work and ordered that it be stopped. A local villager had told TOI that excavation had been underway for two days and workers had shown govt permission believed to cover handling and disposal of up to 500MT of stone generated during the work.The latest communication formally puts the forest department at odds with the earlier permission. It said mining, excavation or removal of minor minerals in the Aravali area, particularly on forest or PLPA land, cannot be permitted without prior NOC or clearance wherever applicable. It also cited Supreme Court orders protecting the Aravalis and banning mining in areas covered by sections 4 and 5 of the PLPA.The Badkhal site is especially sensitive because it lies along Badkhal lake, which govt has been trying to revive since it dried up in 2002. Its plans include restoring water retention, recharging the lake with treated water, treating the lake bed, strengthening the bund and developing the lakefront.The episode comes amid repeated reports of illegal excavation in the Aravalis. On Dec 23, 2024, TOI reported that around 6,000MT of stone was illegally mined after a hillock at Rava in Nuh was blasted apart. In Jan 2025, it reported action ordered against three revenue officials over illegal road construction in Basai Meo.The forest department has also marked its latest letter to the Faridabad deputy commissioner, asking the administration to ensure compliance with forest laws and Supreme Court orders.
