Concerns Over Aravalli Ecological Services

Summary of Key Points on the Aravalli Range

Ecological Importance

• The Aravalli Range extends approximately 700 km from eastern Gujarat to southern Haryana through Rajasthan and Delhi.
• Functions as a "green lung" for north India by:
  • Supporting biodiversity.
  • Recharging aquifers.
  • Moderating hot wind velocity.
  • Resisting the advance of the Thar Desert into the Indo-Gangetic plains.

Supreme Court and Environment Ministry Actions

• A panel from the Union Environment Ministry recommended defining the Aravalli for mining purposes.
• The recommendation, accepted by the Supreme Court, reduces the area considered part of the Aravalli by approximately 90% in Rajasthan.
• New criteria state only landforms at an elevation of 100 meters or more qualify as part of the mountain system.
• Of 12,081 Aravalli hills mapped, only 1,048 hills meet this new criterion.

Historical Context

• The Supreme Court has highlighted since 2002 that all formations of the Aravalli function as a single ecosystem.
• A notable judgment in 2018 emphasized that without the hills, pollution could reach the national capital.

Environmental Concerns

• Reports indicate that the Aravalli has lost a quarter of its hills.
• There is widespread concern that the new definition may lead to further ecological damage.

Government Policies and Plans

• The Aravalli Landscape Restoration Action Plan (May 2023) calls for protective measures against:
  • Deforestation
  • Mining
  • Grazing
  • Human encroachment
• Recognizes threats facing areas like Gurugram and Alwar due to desert sand movement.

Judicial Guidance and Future Action

• The Supreme Court is tasked to formulate a sustainable mining plan for the declassified area.
• Maintaining the integrity of the Aravalli will likely require ongoing judicial oversight to align environmental reforms with legal definitions and actions.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court's acceptance of the environment ministry's criteria raises concerns among environmentalists regarding the sustainable management of the Aravalli Range, which is crucial for northern India's ecology. Protective legislation and policies must be rigorously enforced to preserve this vital natural resource.