Concerns Over Aravalli Ecological Services

Ecological and Legal Context of the Aravalli Mountain Range

Geographic and Environmental Significance

• The Aravalli mountain range extends approximately 700 km from eastern Gujarat to southern Haryana, traversing Rajasthan and Delhi.
• It serves as:
  • A biodiversity hotspot and ecological buffer.
  • An aquifer recharge region critical for sustaining water supplies.
  • A moderating influence on hot winds towards northern India.
  • A resistance barrier against the advancement of the Thar Desert into the Indo-Gangetic plains.

Supreme Court and Government Directive

• A Union Environment Ministry panel's recommendation, which the Supreme Court accepted, reduces the area classified as part of the Aravalli by 90% in Rajasthan.
• The panel based its definition on elevation, suggesting only landforms above 100 meters should qualify, disregarding established criteria from the Forest Survey of India (FSI).
• The FSI mapping indicates only 1,048 of the 12,081 Aravalli hills identified are over this height.

Judicial Precedents and Environmental Laws

• 2002 onwards, the Supreme Court has consistently recognized the Aravalli hills as a single ecosystem, emphasizing their collective role in pollution control (notably impacting air quality in Delhi).
• A significant ruling from 2018 acknowledged the environmental importance of the hills in mitigating pollution, underscoring the risks related to their degradation.

Environmental Commitments and Actions

• The Aravalli Landscape Restoration Action Plan (May) by the Environment Ministry acknowledges threats such as:
  • Deforestation
  • Mining activities
  • Grazing and human encroachment
• Reports indicate that the Aravalli has lost approximately 25% of its hills.

Concerns and Implications

• The new definition under consideration is feared to lead to increased damage to the Aravalli mountain system, undermining ongoing conservation efforts.
• The context of the Supreme Court’s acceptance raises concerns about potential conflicts with its historical role in environmental protection and reform.

Key Takeaways

• Continuous monitoring and judicial guidance will be necessary to ensure the protection of the Aravalli, an essential ecological feature for North India, amidst evolving mining and development policies.
• Future strategies must align with established environmental laws and sustainable practices to prevent further degradation of this vital ecosystem.