The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has asserted the need to protect forest areas in the Chandigarh periphery.The ministry said any commercial development on de-listed land would violate the conditional approval granted in 2009. In an affidavit filed by the ministry before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in an ongoing case of unauthorised construction in periphery of Chandigarh, the regional office of the ministry, North Zone, has stated that any non-forestry activity on forest land requires prior approval of the Centre under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.The MoEF&CC has maintained that the conditions of the original delisting must be upheld “to prevent commercialisation of protected landscapes”. The ministry had granted approval to remove 55,339.95 hectares of cultivated and habitation areas from the purview of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), 1900. However, the approval was subject to mandatory conditions, including no commercial activities on the de-listed land, which should be used for bona fide agriculture, and to sustain the livelihood of the people/owners and any notified forest areas inadvertently included shall continue to remain protected.The alleged unauthorised development in the Chandigarh periphery was in violation of these 2009 conditions and any conversion of these de-listed areas into unauthorised colonies or commercial hubs stand was null and void, the affidavit states. The ministry has maintained that the conditions of the original delisting must be upheld “to prevent commercialisation of protected landscapes”.The ministry has already sought a factual report along with documentary evidence on the issues from the state government and has even sought details of any violations of the Forest Conservation law in these areas.The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) has informed the Tribunal that action has been initiated against 62 unauthorised structures in Mirzapur, Jayanti Majri, Karoran and Siswan villages. Additionally, 92 fresh show-cause notices had been issued since September 15, 2025, to check illegal development.The ministry has given a detailed explanation of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006, clarifying when prior Environmental Clearance is mandatory for building projects and townships. Projects exceeding 20,000 sq m but less than 1,50,000 sq m built-up area or townships covering more than 50 hectares or 1,50,000 sq m built-up area, fall under Category ‘B’ and require clearance.It may be mentioned that the NGT has granted interim stay on farmhouse policy brought by the state government for the de-listed areas.Another matter pertaining to ‘farm stay’ policy of the Tourism Department for the de-listed areas had been already heard by the NGT.