Vanishing Aravallis
THE Aravalli Hills, one of the world’s oldest mountain ranges and a vital ecological barrier, are under relentless assault from illegal mining. Aided by jurisdictional ambiguities, miners have ravaged the hills, particularly in villages along the Haryana-Rajasthan border, leaving flattened landscapes and staggering losses. The Haryana government has estimated a Rs 2,500-crore loss over the last two years due to illegal mining by contractors from Rajasthan, who, it alleges, exploit the lack of demarcation to expand their activities unchecked. In 2023 alone, over eight crore metric tonnes of minerals vanished from hills in Nuh villages, reducing their majestic peaks to rubble. Despite repeated FIRs and complaints by the affected villagers, no action to halt the destruction is visible. The loss isn’t just economic — it has devastated local habitats, displaced communities and disrupted groundwater recharge zones critical for Delhi-NCR’s ecology.
To counter this menace, Haryana has planned to use LiDAR (light detection and ranging) technology for boundary demarcation and intends to recover costs from Rajasthan. However, this jurisdictional tussle only underscores deeper governance failures. Collaborative action by the two states is essential to resolve disputes and implement the Supreme Court directives banning mining in the Aravallis. A 2023 study shows that nearly 8 per cent of the Aravallis has disappeared since 1975, with projections indicating a 22 per cent loss by 2059 if rapid urbanisation and mining continue.
However, the focus must shift to preventive measures — deploying advanced surveillance technologies, imposing strict penalties on the ‘big shark’ miners and bolstering enforcement. The Aravalli range is a lifeline for millions, serving as a natural shield against desertification and a crucial ecological zone. Urgent, coordinated efforts are needed to protect this treasure from the grip of greed and neglect.
