Before the Himalayas were born, before the Ganges began to flow, the Aravalli Range stood watch over the Indian subcontinent. These ancient, weathered hills are the skeletal spine of prehistoric India—a 1.5-billion-year-old geological marvel. Yet, today, this timeless guardian is in a desperate fight for its life. The Aravallis are far more than just hills; they are Delhi-NCR's vital shield against desert storms, its primary water-recharging zone, and its last remaining green lungs. To destroy them is not just an environmental loss it is an act of ecological suicide, severing the very lifelines of air, water, and stability for millions. Because of this, the current demonstrations to #SaveAravalli do not aim to save a few rocks or trees. They are about securing our own survival.
Why people are angry against the government decision?
Image ref: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/-college-goers-hold-silent-protest-to-save-the-aravalis/articleshow/74143152.cms
The recent anger weren't spontaneous. They are a direct, explosive response to a number of governmental rulings and policy initiatives that experts, citizens, and conservationists perceive as a methodical undermining of the Aravalli's legal protections.
Forest Land "De-Notification" (A Significant Trigger)
State governments, particularly in Haryana, have been pushing to reclassify vast sections of the Aravallis as "non-forest" land. This includes areas like the ecologically sensitive Mangar Bani (Sacred Grove) and the Kant Enclave region.[1]
Counter from environmentalists: If these hills are no longer legally "forest," they lose the protection of the Forest Conservation Act (FCA). This opens the floodgates for real estate developers, builders, and miners to legally clear the land. Protesters see this as a fraudulent sleight of hand to hand over a public ecological treasure to private interests.
The 2023 Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act
The 2023 amendment primarily restricts the FCA's use to regions that were officially designated as forests after October 25, 1980. More significantly, it creates specific exceptions for security initiatives and particular kinds of land near borders.[2]
Counter from environmentalists: Environmental lawyers and groups like the Legal Initiative for Forest and Environment (LIFE) argue this narrows the scope of the landmark Godavarman Judgment (1996), which had extended protection to all areas conforming to the "dictionary meaning" of forest, irrespective of official record. This change creates a legal ambiguity that could be used to deny protection to the Aravallis.
Inaction on Illegal Mining and Encroachment
Despite repeated Supreme Court orders (most notably in the Kant Enclave case, 2018) and National Green Tribunal interventions, illegal mining and land-grabbing continue in the Aravallis of Rajasthan and Haryana.On May 8, 2009, the Indian Supreme Court banned all mining activities. The Court recognized that my leasing agents had broken the terms of their licenses by drilling straight up the water table and drastically lowering groundwater levels, which resulted in acute water shortages in the villages. Additionally, it discovered that tenants did not drive up or fill in abandoned mining pits.
According to the Aravali Mining Special Forest Bench, if Aravalis is completely destroyed, then a total ban on mining operations is a reasonable consequence. A complete mining moratorium may be put into place if we are certain that the damage will be irreversible. It's similar to canceling an exam due to widespread misconduct.Even though mining is a positive step toward Aravali's reconstruction, the damage already done is substantial and may not be undone. A special commission to look into various cases of illegal mining in India has been announced by the Ministry for the Government of the Union.
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The Aravali Range: India's Ancient, Wrinkled Guardian
If mountains could talk, the oldest stories on Earth would come from the Aravalis. This range is a silent, collapsing patriarch that has impacted India's ecology, history, and future; it is more than just a picturesque backdrop for the cities of Delhi, Rajasthan, and Haryana. Let's investigate the significance of these "old hills".The Aravali Range, one of the world's oldest fold mountain systems (approximately 1.8 billion years old), has played a profound role in shaping the history, culture, ecology, and economy of northwestern India. Its influence extends from ancient civilizations to modern environmental battles.
How Old and How Formed Was the Ancient One?
Image ref: https://iasnext.com/characteristics-of-fold-mountains-physical-geography-upsc/
They are lively teenagers, so forget about the Himalayas. With an estimated age of 1.8 billion years, the Aravali Range is incredibly old. To put that into perspective, they were older during the time of the dinosaurs and even older during the existence of the supercontinent Pangaea.
They are the battered remnants of a massive mountain range the size of the Himalayas that was formed during the Proterozoic Eon by a massive tectonic collision between ancient landmasses. They have been worn down into the low, remnant hills and irregular ridges we see today over hundreds of millions of years by wind, water, and time. Now nearing the end of their life cycle, geologists refer to them as a "fold mountain" system.
A Cradle of Civilization: The Aravali and the Indus Valley
The Aravalis supported one of the earliest urban civilizations in history, long before forts crowned its peaks. The secret was its mineral wealth.
The Copper Connection: The range is abundant in copper and other minerals, especially in the Khetri region of Rajasthan. Thousands of copper artifacts, including tools, ornaments, and arrowheads, have been found at archaeological sites like Ganeshwar, which is close to Sikar.
Feeding an Empire: There is compelling evidence that the major cities of the Indus Valley Civilization (3300–1300 BCE), including Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, relied heavily on the Aravali mines for their copper supply. Consider it an old industrial heartland that provides a vital resource for trade, tools, and weapons.
Early Settlements: One of the biggest Harappan sites, Rakhi Garhi in modern-day Haryana, is located on plains that are irrigated by rivers that come from the Aravalis, demonstrating how the range supported early agrarian settlements.
The Environmental Shield: Why India Needs the Aravalis
Beyond history, the Aravalis play a vital, active role in India's environment:
The Desert Barrier: This is its most critical function. The Aravalis act as a natural green wall against the advance of the Thar Desert from the west. Their presence checks the spread of sand and aridity into the fertile plains of the Ganga-Yamuna basin.
Rain Catcher & Water Recharger: The range intercepts the moisture-laden southwest monsoon winds. While it doesn't cause very heavy rain itself (being in the rain-shadow region), it helps in precipitation and, more importantly, its forest cover and rocky terrain allow rainwater to percolate down. It recharges aquifers that quench the thirst of millions in cities like Delhi, Gurugram, and Faridabad.
Biodiversity Haven: From the Sariska Tiger Reserve to Ranthambore National Park, the Aravali forests are home to leopards, hyenas, numerous bird species, and unique flora. They are crucial green lungs in an increasingly concretized landscape.
Delhi's Lifeline: The Local Importance
For the National Capital Region (NCR), the Aravalis are not just a view—they are a survival tool.
Groundwater Recharge: The porous quartzite rocks of the range are a giant sponge. Rainwater filters through them, replenishing the severely depleted groundwater tables of Delhi and Gurugram. Destroying them means killing a primary water source.
Air Purifier: The forests act as a massive sink for dust and pollution blowing in from the Thar Desert and local sources, providing cleaner air to one of the world's most polluted regions.
Climate Moderator: The ridge moderates local temperatures and provides a crucial micro-habitat in an urban heat island.
The Monsoon Whisperer
Image ref: https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/monsoon-india
The Aravali's interaction with monsoon winds is subtle but significant. The southwest monsoon winds approach from the Arabian Sea. The range's orientation (running southwest-northeast) doesn't block them massively like the Western Ghats, but it does cause orographic uplift. This leads to modest rainfall on its windward (southern and eastern) side, supporting forests and agriculture. It also plays a role in channeling weather patterns for the region.
A Legacy Under Threat
Today, the ancient Aravali faces modern threats: illegal mining, urban encroachment, deforestation, and habitat fragmentation. Its survival is not a matter of nostalgia but of ecological necessity. Protecting them means protecting our water security, our climate, and a living piece of our planetary heritage.
In Conclusion: The Aravali Range is India's timeless guardian. It gave us copper for our first civilization, stones for our medieval forts, water for our megacities, and a barrier against the desert. It is a testament to deep time and a beacon for sustainable future. To lose it would be to erase a fundamental chapter of India's story and jeopardize the well-being of generations to come.
"...The protection of our local ecosystems is more crucial than ever. If you want to take direct action, I encourage you to join the dedicated volunteers at Aravalli Bachao. Visit their website Save Aravalli to learn how you can get involved and sign their petition to save the Aravalli range. Every voice counts!"
References used in this article:
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