NEW DELHI/GURUGRAM: For the first time, a political party has made environmental degradation an agenda for urban voters in Haryana. The poll plank of Dushyant Chautala’s Jannayak Janta Party ( JJP ) includes saving Aravalis in its agenda, with the hope of wooing urban voters in cities such as Gurugram and Faridabad, who are left cold by politics of caste and rural issues, which usually dominate Haryana’s political game.JJP launched its green pitch by raising concerns over a Bill to dilute the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), 1900, that was approved by the state cabinet recently. JJP feels dilution of forest land aims at opening up land for real estate and promotion of developers in NCR areas.Its agenda states: “It’s clear the aim of reviewing PLPA is to serve the builder lobby. Any dilution of forest cover on behest of the builder mafia is a serious threat to already scarce groundwater, wildlife habitat, soil erosion and green lungs of Gurugram and Faridabad region.” JJP founder Dushyant Chautala said,“Government must get Supreme Court approval to de-notify land under PLPA. We oppose this step of the BJP government on behest of builder and mining mafia. JJP believes in sustainable development, following the Constitution, and to abide by Supreme Court directions.”Response of residents has been encouraging. “It’s not just the environment, but also health and well-being of society. Air and groundwater pollution is taking many lives every year. Making environmental issues part of the election agenda is a welcome move but we’ll have to wait and watch if it gets implemented,” said green activist and resident Vaishali Rana Chandra. Jitender Bhadana of NGO Save Aravali said, “This should be a core issue in the elections.”

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