Protection of the Aravali Range

Protection of the Aravali Range

Context

The Supreme Court of India stayed its own previous order that had attempted to define the Aravalis using a specific height threshold (100 meters). This decision follows widespread environmental concerns that such a narrow definition would exclude nearly 90% of the range from protective status, inadvertently greenlighting large-scale legal mining and construction in ecologically sensitive zones.

About the News

• Background: The legal battle centers on defining what constitutes a "hill" or "mountain" in the Aravali region to determine where mining and development are prohibited.
• Court Observations:
  • A strict 100-meter height criterion is insufficient to capture the geological and ecological complexity of the range.
  • The court emphasized that definitions must prioritize environmental conservation over industrial expansion.
• Immediate Action: The previous "range and height" definition has been paused to prevent irreparable damage to the hills while a more comprehensive ecological criterion is established.

Geographical and Ecological Framework

Geographical Facts:

• Ancient Heritage: Recognized as one of the world's oldest fold mountain systems, dating back to the Proterozoic era.
• Extent: Spans approximately 692 km across four states: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi.
• Highest Point: Guru Shikhar (1,722m) in Mount Abu, Rajasthan.

Ecological Significance:

• Desertification Buffer: Acts as a vital climatic barrier, checking the eastward expansion of the Thar Desert toward the Indo-Gangetic plains.
• Green Lungs: Provides the primary carbon sink and oxygen source for the National Capital Region (NCR) and Northwest India.
• Hydrological Hub: Serves as a critical groundwater recharge zone for water-stressed regions and significantly influences local rainfall patterns.

Challenges

• Illegal Mining: Persistent extraction of stones and minerals for the construction industry despite various bans.
• Urban Encroachment: Rapid urbanization, including the development of luxury homestays and residential complexes, leading to habitat fragmentation.
• Deforestation: Loss of native vegetation cover has contributed to rising temperatures and intensified heat waves in Northern India.
• Legal Ambiguity: The lack of a uniform, scientifically-backed definition for "Aravali" has allowed developers to exploit loopholes in land-use classifications.

Way Forward

• Scientific Mapping: * Utilize satellite imagery and geological surveys to create a comprehensive map of the range that ignores arbitrary height limits.
• Strict Enforcement:
  • Strengthen the implementation of the Forest (Conservation) Act to ensure no non-forest activity occurs without rigorous environmental impact assessments.
• Restoration Projects:
  • Scale up the "Aravali Green Wall Project" to create a 5km buffer zone of afforestation around the range.
• Sustainable Policy:
  • Balance the need for local livelihoods (like sustainable tourism) with the mandatory protection of the ridge’s core ecological functions.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court’s decision to revisit the definition of the Aravalis is a crucial victory for environmental jurisprudence. Protecting this ancient range is not merely about preserving a landscape, but about ensuring the ecological security, water safety, and climate resilience of Northwest India.