PM launches special project to reforest  700-km Aravalli mountain range

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on World Environment Day on Thursday launched a special initiative to reforest the 700-km Aravalli mountain range, which spans from Delhi to Gujarat.

The restoration of the mountain range, which acts as the water source for the Indo-Gangetic plain, will involve conserving the water catchment areas. This will help increase groundwater in several cities of Haryana and Rajasthan.

Taking the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign ahead, Modi planted a sapling at the Bhagwan Mahavir Vanasthali Park here. Highlighting the importance of the Aravallis, PM Modi said: “It is widely known that the Aravalli range is one of the oldest on our planet, covering Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi. The past several years have brought to the fore several environmental challenges relating to this range, which our government is committed to mitigating. Our focus is to rejuvenate areas linked with this range. We are going to work with the respective local administrations to improve water systems, curb dust storms, stop eastward expansion of the Thar desert and much more.”

Recently, the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), a Supreme Court panel, pulled up the Haryana Government in its report on illegal construction of a road in the Aravallis. 

The Prime Minister said the plantation in the mountain range would be geo-tagged and uploaded on the Meri LiFE portal.

“In the Aravalli range and beyond, in addition to the traditional planting methods, we will encourage new techniques in urban and semi-urban areas where there are space constraints. Plantation activities will be geo-tagged and monitored on the Meri LiFE portal,” he said.

The action plan involves creation of a thousand nurseries, besides improving water catchment areas, across the Aravallis in Gujarat, Delhi, Rajasthan and Haryana. Grasslands will be developed to boost the prey base for big cats, such as tigers and leopards.

The plan also involves creating a carbon sink to reduce the impact of pollution in Gurugram and Delhi, and prevent prevent desertification through greening of the mountain range. 

The divisional forest officers of 29 districts in Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana and Rajasthan have been directed by the Union Environment Ministry to prepare a management plan.

A ministry official, on the condition of anonymity, said, “The Supreme Court is monitoring the progress of the state governments to curb unauthorised mining. The focus is also on restoring degraded land. The plan is to restore 26 million hectares of the most degraded and vulnerable land and turn around the degraded portion of the Aravallis.”

Earlier, the Prime Minister also flagged off 200 electric buses under an initiative of the Delhi Government aimed at boosting sustainable development and clean urban mobility.

"Building a clean and green Delhi! Flagged off electric buses under an initiative of the Delhi Government aimed at boosting sustainable development and clean urban mobility. Additionally, this will also improve 'Ease of Living' for the people of Delhi,” Modi posted on X.