Youth Cong, environmentalists protest to save Aravallis in Narnaul & Rewari

Protest demonstrations are being staged over the conservation of the Aravallis mountain range in south Haryana in Narnaul and Rewari.

Activists of the Youth Congress led by Congress MLA Manju Chaudhary took out a protest march in Narnaul on Monday.

“Aravallis is the lifeline for the people of our area, but the intention of the BJP government regarding the Aravallis is not right,” stated the MLA.

The Congress leader pointed out that the Aravallis were already getting devastated due to illegal mining and on top of it, the government intended to decimate the mountain range altogether.

State Youth Congress vice-president Krishan Rao warned that tampering with the Aravallis would lead to a drastic change in climate, increase environmental pollution and convert the entire state of Haryana into a desert area.

District Youth Congress president Puneet Bulan stated that the Aravallis were a natural habitat for countless species of flora and fauna in the states of Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat and immensely beneficial for the residents of these states.

“Hence, the conservation of Aravallis is essential for the said states,” he said.

The protesting activists of the Youth Congress also submitted a memorandum to the local SDM in support of their demands.

Meanwhile, a convention was organised under the aegis of the Save Aravalli Movement at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Park in Rewari on Monday regarding the Central Government’s stance in the context of the recent Supreme Court decision regarding the Aravallis.

A number of environmentalists, representatives of social organisations and civil society residents participated.

Moderating the meeting, Comrade Rajender Singh Advocate explained that on November 20, the Supreme Court accepted the Central Government’s proposal and ruled that only those hills which were 100 metres or above would fall within the definition of Aravallis.

“This decision will exclude 90 per cent of the hills from the Aravalli region,” he stated. Manoj Yadav, a retired government officer, said this decision was not in the public interest.

Hemant Shekhawat stated that if this definition of Aravallis was implemented, the entire region would turn into a desert.

Advocate Ajay Singh remarked that the Supreme Court’s decision legalised illegal mining.

Abhay Singh Fideri said the destruction of the Aravallis would destroy the natural balance and beauty.

Farmer leader Ramkumar stated that the Aravallis caused rainfall and its destruction would adversely affect rainwater recharge.

Anil, a representative of Bhagwanpur village sarpanch, assured full support for the movement.

The convention maintained that either the Supreme Court should revoke the decision taken on November 20 or a special session of Parliament be convened to overturn the decision.