Be Mains Ready

Approach

• Introduce by mentioning the importance of Aravallis.
• Explain the causes and impacts of illegal mining in the Aravallis and how it can be a potential environmental disaster.
• Mention the steps taken by the government for the protection of Aravalis.
• Conclude by giving a citizen centric approach for preservation of Aravalis.

Introduction

The Aravallis is a range of fold mountains spanning from Rajasthan to Delhi. The region is rich in biodiversity and is critical for the entire ecosystem. It acts as a region of natural groundwater recharge zone and also helps neutralize NCR’s rising air pollution acting as ‘lungs’ for the region.

In February 2019, the Haryana legislative assembly passed an act to remove several hills of the Aravalli range from the category of “restricted area,” making it available for construction and mining activities. However, the Supreme Court, through an order, promptly nullified the amendment.

Body

Rampant illegal mining of Aravalis has caused devastating impacts on entire ecology of the region. More than 25% and 31 hill ranges of the Aravallis in Rajasthan have vanished due to illegal quarrying. Some of its harmful impacts are as follows:

• Digging or mining to a great depth leads to puncturing of aquifers, which disturbs the water flow, results in drying of lakes and popping up of new ones creating an environmental imbalance.
• Many rivers originating in the Aravalli like Banas, Luni, Sahibi and Sakhi, are now dead. The hydrological system and consequent water table in the whole NCR region is under threat, with altered natural drainage patterns.
• Loss of biodiversity of the region. There has been a considerable decrease in the flora and fauna like leopards, striped hyenas, golden jackals, nilgais, etc.
• Increased Human-Animal conflict as natural forests along Aravallis are being lost.
• Mining and crushing leads to release of Particulate Matter (PM) which is a major reason for air pollution in the NCR region.
• Aravallis also act as barrier against the moisture laden clouds, thereby helping the NCR get sufficient rainfall, which will be under threat if Aravallis’ destruction continues.

Hence, such devastating impact on the region’s ecology is nothing but a disaster in the making.

Efforts are being made by the government and the civil society groups for its preservation like:

• MoEFCC in 1992 issued “The Aravalli Notification” which prohibits setting up of new industries, mining, deforestation as well as construction activities, including roads and laying of transmission cables, without the prior permission from MoEFCC.
• In 2009, the Supreme Court banned all mining activities in the Aravallis. However, despite this ban Haryana government allowed construction projects in the region.

The State Governments should adhere to the ‘precautionary principle’ laid down by the Supreme Court in 1996, Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum v Union of India and Others case. It states that central and/or the state governments, while considering a project, must foresee environmental degradation and shall prevent such degradation without waiting for scientific evidence to show that there will be irreparable damage to the environment.

Conclusion

In 2009, the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon declared it a biodiversity park and partnered with civil society groups like ‘IamGurgaon’, MNCs and residents to plant trees and restoration of the forest. This model should be followed and implemented to save the Aravallis and brewing concurrent environmental disaster.