In Asola Bhatti, farmhouse walls being razed for now

“Occupants of such khasras should remove their unauthorised structures/encroachment/occupation and built-up areas, if any, immediately failing which the unauthorised structures will be demolished and encroachment removed by the department,” the notice states.

Sources in the Forest department said the notice was in response to objections by a number of residents in Asola village, who claimed there was no clarity on whether their properties lay in protected land. “We are currently demolishing boundary walls and leaving out built-up areas on humanitarian grounds to give people time to clear their belongings. But in time, we will raze all constructions that have been built illegally on forest land,” A K Shukla, Chief Conservator of Forests & Chief Wildlife Warden, said.

On Monday, the Forest department recovered land from khasra number 1309 and 1310. Earlier, the boundary walls of khasra number 1673, where a farmhouse has been constructed on 10 acres, was demolished. On Thursday, 500 metres of boundary wall of a farmhouse in khasra number 1724 was demolished. On Wednesday, the department demolished the wall of a farmhouse in khasra number 1728. The forest department said it had recovered over 100 acres of land till now.

The farmhouses built illegally in the sanctuary — home to over 250 species of plants, 200 species of birds and 150 species of butterflies — have wiped out over 400 acres of forest land. Apart from recovering this land, the department has also begun the painstaking task of reviving the green cover.

“Alongside the demolition, we will also be planting new plants. This is extremely important, especially since the forest is located in South Delhi. Unsustainable development has hampered the ecosystem in the area and Asola Bhatti remains the last untouched green space here. Planting new trees will not only help in terms of managing pollution, but also recharge Delhi’s water table,” Shukla said.