The Aravalli Range: A Vital Ecological Shield for Northwestern India
The Aravalli Range: An Ancient Ecological Guardian
Extending across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi, it serves as a critical shield for north-western India
Himani Sharma
The Aravalli mountain range, one of the oldest on the planet, boasts a history spanning nearly two billion years. This range is not just a geographical feature; it plays a vital role as an ecological protector for north-western India.
Despite its significant environmental importance, the Aravalli ecosystem faces ongoing degradation. The Supreme Court of India has intervened to address this issue, yet recent developments indicate a worsening crisis that jeopardizes the survival of this ancient range.
Geological Significance of the Aravallis
The Aravalli range stretches approximately 670 kilometers, acting as a natural barrier between the arid Thar Desert and the more fertile plains of northern India. Composed of some of the world's oldest metamorphic rocks, this range is rich in minerals and features fractured structures that facilitate groundwater recharge.
Unlike younger mountain ranges such as the Himalayas, the Aravallis are residual mountains that have undergone significant erosion over time. This makes them particularly susceptible to human activities, especially mining and large-scale construction.
Preventing Desertification
One of the Aravalli Range's most crucial functions is serving as a natural barrier against the eastward spread of the Thar Desert. By reducing wind speed and stabilizing soil, these hills help prevent sand movement and desert encroachment into densely populated areas like Haryana, Delhi, and western Uttar Pradesh. The destruction of this barrier accelerates desertification and land degradation.
Groundwater Recharge and Water Security
The Aravalli hills are essential for groundwater recharge. Rainwater seeps into the fractured rock, replenishing aquifers that provide water to millions. Several rivers and seasonal streams, including the Luni, Banas, and Sahibi, originate from this range.
In regions facing water scarcity, the Aravallis are vital for supporting agriculture, livestock, and urban water supplies. Despite their rugged appearance, the range is home to diverse ecosystems, including dry deciduous forests, thorn scrub, grasslands, and wetlands.
These habitats support various wildlife, such as leopards, striped hyenas, golden jackals, nilgai, pangolins, and numerous bird and reptile species. Protected areas like Sariska Tiger Reserve and parts of the Delhi Ridge are crucial components of this ecosystem.
Climate Regulation and Air Quality
The Aravalli Range plays a significant role in regulating local and regional climates by moderating temperatures, increasing humidity, and reducing dust storms. The forested areas of the range act as carbon sinks, absorbing carbon dioxide and helping to mitigate climate change. In the National Capital Region, the Delhi Ridge functions as a green lung, aiding in the reduction of air pollution and heat stress.
Human Impact and Long-Term Degradation
Over the years, the Aravalli Range has faced systematic destruction due to human activities. Both legal and illegal mining for stone, marble, quartz, and other minerals has led to the flattening of hills and permanent changes to the landscape.
Urban expansion in cities like Gurugram, Faridabad, Jaipur, and Alwar has resulted in significant encroachment and deforestation. Industrialization, road construction, and real estate development have fragmented wildlife habitats and disrupted natural drainage systems.
These actions have led to declining groundwater levels, increased flooding during monsoons, rising temperatures, and worsening air quality.
Supreme Court's Intervention: Intent and Legal Implications
The Supreme Court stepped in to safeguard the Aravalli ecosystem after acknowledging the extent of environmental damage. In several landmark rulings, the court prohibited mining and limited construction activities in designated Aravalli areas, particularly in Haryana and Rajasthan.
A key point in the court's observations was that the Aravallis should be regarded as forests in an ecological context, regardless of their classification in land revenue records. The court stressed that environmental protection should not be compromised by administrative technicalities or economic interests.
However, despite the Supreme Court's firm stance, the situation post-verdict has revealed significant implementation failures. In some cases, state governments and local authorities have reclassified forest land as non-forest, permitting construction and infrastructure projects to move forward.
This has effectively undermined the protective measures envisioned by the court. Illegal mining persists in various areas due to inadequate monitoring and enforcement. Urban projects have fragmented the Aravalli landscape, disrupting wildlife corridors and diminishing ecological connectivity.
The Urgent Need for Action
Environmental experts caution that such actions contradict the spirit of judicial protection and place the range under renewed threat. The ongoing degradation of the Aravalli Range has serious implications, including accelerated desertification, severe water shortages, increased air pollution, and loss of biodiversity.
The deterioration of groundwater recharge systems jeopardizes agricultural productivity and urban water security. Socially, the destruction of the Aravallis impacts rural livelihoods, heightens climate vulnerability, and exacerbates environmental inequality.
Urban populations face escalating health risks due to heat waves, dust pollution, and water scarcity. Protecting the Aravalli Range necessitates urgent, coordinated, and long-term efforts. A dedicated national-level conservation law for the Aravalli is essential to ensure consistent protection across states.
Strict enforcement of mining bans, transparent land classification, and accountability mechanisms must be established. Large-scale ecological restoration through afforestation with native species, revival of traditional water harvesting systems, and protection of wildlife corridors is crucial.
Public awareness, community involvement, and the integration of environmental considerations into urban planning and development policies are equally important. The Aravalli Range is not a barren or expendable landscape but a foundational ecological system that sustains life across north-western India.
The Supreme Court's intervention acknowledged this reality, yet the crisis unfolding after the verdict highlights a dangerous gap between legal intent and ground reality. If this ancient mountain system continues to deteriorate, the consequences will be ecological, economic, and human in scale.
Protecting the Aravallis is not just an environmental duty but a moral obligation to future generations. The fate of this ancient range will determine the environmental resilience of northern India amid climate uncertainty and increasing human pressures.