Gurgaon: Haryana forest department is planning a nature camp and a set of eco‑tourism and ecological restoration projects in Nuh district. The move aims to reclaim degraded land and strengthen ecological linkages in the environmentally fragile Aravali region, officials said.A key component of the proposal is the redevelopment of a rainwater‑filled abandoned mining pit in Silkho village, which will be converted into an eco‑tourism site. The project will be jointly developed by the forest department and the Mewat Development Agency. Plantation work at the site will be carried out under the Andaman Compensatory Afforestation (CA) Plan, which is implemented as compensation for forest land diverted for non‑forest uses such as mining, roads and other infrastructure projects.Under this plan, afforestation linked to the diversion of forest land in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is being implemented in other regions, including parts of Haryana. Officials said the focus is not on routine plantation but on site‑specific ecological restoration, using native species suited to the rocky and semi‑arid Aravali landscape.The plan will prioritize the reclamation of degraded hills, abandoned mining pits, forest fringes and ravines, particularly in the districts of Nuh and Gurgaon. The program also goes beyond meeting plantation targets by integrating water conservation, soil stabilization and habitat creation, officials said.The initiative is seen as important for Nuh, a district that has witnessed extensive mining, hill degradation and loss of green cover, making it vulnerable to soil erosion, water stress and biodiversity decline. Subhash Yadav, conservator of forest (South Haryana), said, “Reclaiming abandoned mining sites and restoring forest patches could help revive local ecosystems while discouraging further environmental damage.”The plan also includes developing a jungle track connecting the KMP Expressway to Taoru Road, passing through forest stretches and Kotla Lake. The lake is proposed to be developed as a birding destination, given its ecological potential within the Aravali belt. “The irrigation department will execute this component of the project, as the access road near the lake falls under its jurisdiction. Signages and basic visitor information infrastructure are also planned along the route to support regulated nature tourism,” Yadav said.Forest officials said projects such as the Nuh nature camp align with the Andaman CA framework because they combine afforestation, landscape recovery and community‑linked conservation, rather than standalone tourism infrastructure.“The focus is on reclaiming degraded sites and improving habitat connectivity while ensuring ecological protection. These initiatives will help increase green cover, support biodiversity and raise awareness about the ecological importance of the Aravali landscape,” Yadav added.Officials said the projects are being planned with an emphasis on conservation, controlled access and long‑term ecological restoration.
