GURUGRAM: A two-kilometre-long road has been dug in the protected Aravali region, in what appeared to be a major violation of environmental norms.
TOI visited the area on Sunday and found that earth has been dug up from Kharak village to Raisina village, which local residents alleged was the act of farmhouse owners for illegally laying water pipelines from borewells situated in low-lying areas to their properties on the hills because of water scarcity in the region.
“This is not the first time that the road has been dug up for laying down a water pipeline in the area.
However, this is probably the first time that such a long stretch has been dug to lay the pipeline.
It is because water table on the hill has declined in the past three to four years.
Green activists have slammed the farmhouse owners for openly flouting the Supreme Court’s ban on extraction of groundwater in 448 square kilometre area of the Aravalis in Gurugram and Faridabad.
Besides, the area falls under the Aravali Notification Act and therefore no construction is allowed in the area.
In the past eight months, 11 cases of tree-felling and illegal construction have been reported in the Aravalis.
Four of which were reported from Raisina village.
Despite repeated attempts, D Hembram, conservator of forests (south circle), could not be contacted.

Kottayam: Situated picturesquely on the eastern mountain ranges running through the borders of Kottayam district at an altitude of 2,500 ft above sea level is Chakirimedu, a remote village in Koruthode panchayat.
One can relish a panoramic view of Ponkunnam and Kanjirappally towns and their environs, located at a distance of about 30 kilometers, from the top of this hilly tract.
This rich and varied scenery is sure to captivate tourists, but there is something that may put them off as well.
The 25 families at the rehabilitation colony constructed around 15 years ago are now offering prayers to rain gods as the public pond in the village, their only source of water, has dried up.
Huge water tanks can be spotted in front of every house in the area.
The panchayat has constructed a huge tank along the main road, but there is not a drop of water in it.
Many people who live in rented homes do not want to construct a house there due to lack of basic amenities including water supply.
When the water crisis worsens during summer months, panchayats do make arrangements to supply water in tanker lorries in these areas, but it won’t be enough to fulfill even their basic needs.
The solution lies in effective rain water harvesting and construction of ferrocement tanks.
The residents have been demanding setting up of tanks in each house in the locality to ensure adequate water supply in the coming summer seasons.