Bought a Home in Faridabad? 32-Year Forest Land Dispute Finally Moves Towards Resolution
GURUGRAM | August 5, 2026: Thousands of homeowners living in several developed sectors of Faridabad may finally see progress in resolving a decades-old land issue. More than 32 years after residential colonies and public infrastructure were developed on forest land without mandatory central approval, the Haryana government has begun the process of regularising the violation by paying compensation and earmarking land for afforestation.
The move is expected to bring greater regulatory clarity to one of Faridabad's oldest land-related issues, though the legal compliance process is still underway.
What is the issue?
Between 1990 and 1994, Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) developed residential sectors and public infrastructure on land protected under the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA) without obtaining mandatory approval from the Central Government under forest conservation laws.
The affected land now includes residential sectors, roads, institutional buildings, water works, green belts, a fire station, police station, tourism facilities and other public infrastructure in Faridabad.
HSVP deposits ₹52 crore to resolve the issue
As part of the compliance process, HSVP has deposited nearly ₹52 crore with the Forest Department.
The authority will also hand over around 135.5 hectares of land in Sectors 44 and 47—nearly double the diverted forest area—for compensatory afforestation. The Forest Department plans to develop plantations on the site and create supporting infrastructure, including an inspection facility.
Centre grants in-principle approval
The Central Government has granted in-principle approval for the ex-post facto diversion of 67.6 hectares of forest land after examining the proposal under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980.
The approval follows recommendations of the ministry's advisory committee, which acknowledged that the land had been diverted for non-forest purposes decades ago without the required environmental clearance.
Conditions still need to be fulfilled
The approval is not unconditional.
HSVP and the state government will have to comply with several requirements, including:
- Payment of applicable penal charges where required.
- Transfer of compensatory afforestation land to the Forest Department.
- Protection of the afforestation site through fencing.
- Removal of a police post located on the proposed afforestation land.
- Survey of mining pits and ponds before plantation begins.
Officials also confirmed that no tree felling is proposed under the current approval process.
Why this matters for property owners
For many families living in the affected sectors, the issue has remained unresolved for decades despite homes, roads and public facilities already being in use.
While homeowners are not directly involved in the compliance process, the government's efforts to complete pending forest clearances could help strengthen regulatory certainty surrounding these developed areas. The case also highlights the growing importance of environmental approvals in urban development projects across India.
What happens next?
The Forest Department is currently waiting for the formal transfer (mutation) of the compensatory land before plantation work begins. Once all conditions imposed by the Centre are fulfilled, the long-pending compliance process is expected to move closer to completion.