IJEP 44(2): 137-146 : Vol. 44 Issue. 2 (February 2024)
1. Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Amity School of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development, Noida – 201 313, Uttar Pradesh, India
2. Haryana Space Application Centre, CCS HAU Campus, Hisar – 125 004, Haryana, India
Abstract
The progress of mankind necessitates expansion of urbanization. Globalization and liberalization of Indian economy saw unprecedented growth in the ring towns of national capital, Delhi, including Gurugram. It is one of the major industrial towns of the state of Haryana and one of the major software development hubs that hosts major multinational corporations and service providers. Economic growth of the city began in the 1970s with establishment of manufacturing plant of Maruti Suzuki India Limited and later when DLF, the real estate firm, collaborated with General Electric and established its business of outsourcing operations. The city has provided immense growth and business opportunities to entrepreneurs that has led to the population growth and swelling of the city. The growth in urban areas has been assisted by subsequent developmental plans for the expanding city, including Gurugram Developmental Plan (GDP) 2021 of 2007, GDP 2020 of 2011, GDP 2031 of 2012 and Gwal Pahari Developmental Plan of 2010 amended in 2016. While the city is becoming another Silicon Valley with expansion of software and service sector business opportunities, it is also one of the districts of Haryana that has appreciable forest cover on the ridge of Arravalli ranges. The city of Gurugram has fringe of Aravalli on either side of the city. The western ridge originates at the Asola Bhati sanctuary at the border of Delhi and Faridabad and culminates at Sohna-Ballaabhgarh road at Khuntpuri, whereas the western ridge extends from KMP highway at Manesar, running almost parallel to the Alwar road upto Firozpur Jhirka in district Nuh. The Aravallis are majorly covered with forest. These ranges are either protected by the Aravalli notification of 1992 under the Environment Protection Act, 1986 or by notifications under Punjab Land Preservation Act, 1900. The growth spurge has also resulted in the change in forest cover in urban areas, whereas the change in forest cover in rural areas remains majorly unviolated. The present paper analyses the effect of urban plans and changes in forest cover in district Gurugram in the Aravalli ranges.
Keywords
Forest statutes, Gurugram, Urban development plans, Forest cover change, Punjab Land Preservation Act, Aravalli notification, Aravalli ranges, Urbanization
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