Aravallis Degradation and Restoration: Impact and Proposed Solutions

Explore the Aravallis Degradation and Restoration—India’s ancient mountain corridor—highlighting alarming land loss from illegal mining, deforestation, and urban sprawl, alongside promising initiatives like the Aravalli Green Wall.

Table of Contents

Context: A recent report titled ‘The State of the Haryana Aravallis: Citizens’ Report – Part 2’ has raised concerns about severe environmental degradation and a public health crisis caused by illegal dumping and burning of waste across the Aravalli range in Haryana.

About Aravallis

The Aravalli Range is one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, predating even the formation of the Himalayas.
Geographical Spread: It is located in north-western India, stretching approximately 692 km in the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi.

Need to Save the Aravallis

Ecological Significance: Home to diverse flora and fauna, including leopards, hyenas, and over 200 bird species.
Climate Regulation: A critical role in India’s monsoon system, and helps in regulating temperature in the surrounding regions, like Delhi-NCR.
- The range acts as a natural barrier, preventing the Thar Desert from encroaching into the fertile agricultural lands of Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Water Security: Essential for groundwater recharge and maintaining local hydrology.
Air Quality: Serves as a green lung, significantly reducing air pollution in the region.
Biodiversity Conservation: Supports numerous rare and endemic species, making it an ecologically valuable hotspot.

Severe Factors Responsible for Degradation

Illegal Mining and Deforestation: Extensive extraction of minerals leads to habitat destruction, soil erosion, and loss of forest cover.
Illegal Waste Dumping: Over 100 identified locations where solid, chemical, and industrial waste are illegally dumped, contaminating soil and groundwater.
Waste Burning: Uncontrolled burning releases toxic chemicals and pollutants into the air, severely affecting public health and the environment.
Weak Monitoring & Enforcement: Ineffective regulatory oversight facilitates illegal activities like waste disposal, mining, and encroachments.
Urbanisation Pressure: Expansion of urban settlements, especially around Gurugram and Faridabad, is shrinking natural ecosystems.

Impacts of Aravalli Degradation

Ecological and Biodiversity Loss: Reduction in habitat leading to declining wildlife populations (leopards, hyenas, bird species).
- Loss of native plant species, adversely impacting local biodiversity.
Groundwater Contamination and Scarcity: Illegal waste dumping contaminates groundwater with heavy metals, pathogens, and toxic chemicals.
- Reduced groundwater recharge capacity due to deforestation and mining.
Air Pollution and Public Health Crisis: Toxic emissions from waste burning cause respiratory diseases, allergies, cancers, and other health issues.
- Diminished air quality, particularly affecting Delhi-NCR.
Increased Desertification and Climate Change Effects: Loss of forest cover accelerates soil erosion and desertification.
- Reduced ability to moderate temperatures, exacerbating heatwaves in surrounding urban areas.
Socio-economic Consequences: Negative impact on agriculture and livestock due to contaminated water and soil degradation.
- Decline in tourism potential and associated economic losses.

Initiative/Project For Aravallis Restoration

Detailed Action Plan: Recently, the government unveiled a detailed action plan for Aravalli landscape restoration.
National Mission for a Green India (2014): Recently revised document of the mission stated that a ‘micro-ecosystem’ approach will be adopted to make interventions in the vulnerable landscapes like the Aravallis

Project For Aravallis Restoration

Proposed Solutions

Legal Protection and ‘No-Go’ Zones: Declare the entire Haryana Aravalli range a ‘no-go’ zone for mining, dumping, burning of waste, and construction.
Strengthened Monitoring & Accountability: Formation of an Aravalli Protection Task Force led by Deputy Commissioners and overseen by the Chief Secretary.
- Deploying 24/7 surveillance and drone monitoring, especially near state borders.
Strict Implementation of Waste Management Rules: Enforce Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, emphasising source segregation, composting, and recycling.
Relocating Landfills: Shift existing landfills like Bandhwari away from ecologically sensitive zones to minimise contamination.
Awareness and Community Engagement: Conduct independent environmental assessments.
- Engage local communities through education and incentives for sustainable practices and a strict ban on single-use plastics.