Gurgaon, July 5, 2024 – Environmentalists and concerned citizens are raising alarms following the state government’s decision to allow the construction of stilt-plus-four (S+4) floors on residential plots in licensed colonies and sectors. Critics argue that this move poses a significant threat to Gurgaon’s green cover and exacerbates the city’s vulnerability to urban flooding.
Environmental Concerns
The decision has been met with opposition from environmentalists who contend that the increased concretisation will lead to an accelerated removal of green cover, which is already dwindling due to “illogical” felling of thousands of trees in residential areas. They warn that the city is being transformed into a concrete jungle, even beyond the boundaries of private plots.
Chetan Agarwal, a forest analyst, highlighted the potential for increased urban flooding: “The increased concretisation will aggravate the problem of flooding in the city. As more plots are covered with impermeable surfaces, the runoff water will inevitably flow onto the roads, leading to waterlogging and urban flooding during heavy rains. This not only poses a risk to public safety but also puts additional strain on the city’s drainage infrastructure.”
Impact on Green Cover
The Forest Survey of India’s report revealed that Gurgaon’s total forest area was a mere 113.71 square kilometers between October 2019 and February 2020. The new policy threatens to shrink this limited green cover further, adversely affecting the city’s ecological balance and the well-being of its residents.
RP Balwan, former conservator of forests, Gurgaon, criticized the policy: “The policy will result in damaging the entire ecosystem. Trees in the region need high levels of light, but with the policy in colonies and sectors, trees will eventually die because of a lack of sunlight as it will be blocked by the buildings. The building will install more ACs, which means that it will generate more carbon into the environment. This will increase the pollution and damage the ecological balance completely.”
Call for Legislative Action
Environmental experts are calling for stringent laws to protect the green cover, similar to the Tree Act in Delhi, 1994. This act mandates that for each tree cut, a person must deposit ₹34,500 with the forest department and plant 10 saplings, while civic agencies face a cost of ₹57,000 per tree under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994, with a penalty of up to seven years of imprisonment for illegal felling of trees.
City-based environmentalist Vivek Kamboj pointed out the absence of green cover in the new policy: “Trees that were outside of the plots are also chopped down after getting permission from MCG and the forest department. This is very dangerous for the ecology. There is no mention of green cover in these colonies or sectors.”
Conclusion
The government’s approval of S+4 floors has sparked significant concern among environmentalists and residents of Gurgaon. The potential loss of green cover and increased risk of urban flooding highlight the urgent need for policies that balance urban development with environmental sustainability. The call for stronger legislative measures to protect trees and green spaces is becoming more pressing as the city continues to grow.
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