New Delhi | Jun 27, 2016: Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar today undertook an aerial survey of Aravali range to see whether large tracts of forests exist in the range and find solutions to protect its natural beauty, a move which comes in the wake of reported encroachments on the area.

"I undertook a comprehensive aerial survey of Aravali. The Narendra Modi government's policy is to save environment with balanced development. In this direction, whatever court's decisions has been taken...whatever new policy which needs to be done, I had to see the situation.

"What are the right solutions so that Aravalli's natural beauty can be enhanced, how to achieve balanced development along with saving the environment, we also had elaborate discussions on it," Javadekar said after the visit.

He was accompanied by Director General of Forest S S Negi and Forest Minister of Haryana Rao Narbir Singh.

Although some sources said the move is likely to help the Environment Ministry in finalising the "definition of forests" for the purpose of forest laws, the ministry officials denied any such suggestion.

Senior forest officials in Gurgaon told the Minister's objective was to see the Aravalis and the state of the forest therein so that Ministry can play a more "proactive" role in its protection.

They also said Javadekar did not specifically discuss the finalisation of "defination of forests" during interaction.

Sources, however, said problems have been created due to reported encroachments and illegal mining on the Aravalis.

According to forest officials though most of the Aravalis is forest land it is not on official record as such because most part of it used to be owned by Panchayat and presently large parts are owned privately.

"Many people say there is no forest and there is only scrubs. These are arid areas and they will have scrub forests. He (Javadekar) wanted to see that. He appreaciated the fact that there are large patches of very dense forest," sources said.

Last year, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had also made an aerial inspection of Aravali and Mangarbani.

The state government had subsequently issued notification for demarcation of Mangarbani. Sources said 3,000 acre in Mangarbani is completely protected forest area presently.

"What one also sees from the ariel survey is the close connection of the forest with water. Most of water recharge areas is in the Aravali. From the forest department's point of view, we do not want to close all of Aravalis but a substantial part of it needs to be protected," the source said.

(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)