Debris in Gurugram’s Green Belt

• 21 Nov 2024

Why in News? 

Recently, the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) faces backlash for dumping garbage and debris from the Gurgaon-Faridabad highway into the ecologically sensitive green belt of Baliwas village in the Aravalli forest. 

Key Points

• Importance of the Green Belt: 
  • The green belt is vital for groundwater recharge, agriculture, recreation, and houses the revered Hill of Devta temple, intensifying local opposition. 
  • Environmentalists highlight the area’s role in preventing desertification and maintaining the balance of the Aravalli forest ecosystem. 
• Concerns: 
  • Baliwas residents fear being trapped between the Bandhwari waste dump and the new dumping site. 
  • Environmentalists caution that continued dumping could lead to irreversible ecological damage, affecting soil quality, biodiversity, and groundwater recharge. 
• Government and Administrative Response: 
  • Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) plans to inspect the site, raising hopes for stricter enforcement. 
  • The MCG Commissioner promised action, forming a dedicated team to assess the situation and recommending strict measures against violators to protect the green belt.

Aravallis 

• About:  
  • The Aravalli Range extends from Gujarat to Delhi through Rajasthan, 692 km in length and varies between 10 to 120 km in width. 
    • The range acts as a natural green wall, with 80% located in Rajasthan and 20% in Haryana, Delhi, and Gujarat. 
  • The Aravalli mountains are divided into two main ranges the Sambhar Sirohi Range and the Sambhar Khetri Range in Rajasthan, where their extension is about 560 km. 
  • It serves as an ecotone between the Thar Desert and the Gangetic Plain. 
    • Ecotones are areas where two or more ecosystems, biological communities, or biotic regions meet. 
  • Gurusikhar (Rajasthan), the highest peak in the range, reaches an elevation of 1,722 meters. 
• Significance of Aravalis: 
  • The Aravallis prevent the Thar Desert from encroaching on the Indo-Gangetic plains, historically serving as a catchment for rivers and plains. 
  • The range supports 300 native plant species, 120 bird species, and exclusive animals like jackals and mongooses. 
  • During monsoons, the Aravallis direct monsoon clouds eastward, benefiting sub-Himalayan rivers and North Indian plains. In winter, they shield fertile valleys from cold westerly winds. 
  • The range aids in groundwater replenishment by absorbing rainwater, thus reviving groundwater levels. 
  • The Aravallis act as the “lungs” for Delhi-NCR, mitigating some effects of the region's severe air pollution.