Aravali Safari Park Project | 20 Feb 2025

Source: TH

Haryana’s proposed Aravali Safari Park, featuring wildlife enclosures, hotels, and restaurants, faces debate over its impact on ecology, groundwater, and wildlife conservation.

About Aravali Safari Park Project: It is envisioned as the world’s largest safari park (approx 10,000 acres) and aims to support eco-tourism and compensatory afforestation.
- Inspired by UAE’s Sharjah Park, it is planned for compensatory afforestation to mitigate the loss of 26,000 acres of tropical forests in Great Nicobar.
- It will only be developed in areas where forest density is less than 40%.
- Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 was amended in 2023 to bring it under the 'forest' activity, and allowing zoos to be built in forest areas.
About Aravalis: It is the oldest fold mountain range in the world and runs diagonally (northeast to southwest) across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, and Haryana for about 690 km.
- It plays a crucial role in preventing desertification eastwards and recharging groundwater.
- The hidden limb of the Aravallis, extending from Delhi to Haridwar, separates the drainage of the Ganga and Indus rivers.
- Its highest peak is Guru Shikhar on Mount Abu (Rajasthan) at 1,722 metres.