Govt starts soil devpt in Aravalli dists to restore ecology, combat desertification
2
Jaipur: In a major push for ecological restoration and desertification control, the Rajasthan govt began soil development works across 3,700 hectares in 19 districts along the Aravali range under the Aravali Green Development Project.
With an allocation of Rs 250 crore over five years, the project comprises one year of plantation followed by one year of maintenance. Rajasthan is the first among the four Aravali states — Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, and Gujarat — to roll out this initiative on a large scale.
The project aims to restore the deteriorating Aravali ecosystem and prevent the advancement of sandstorms from the Thar Desert into the National Capital Region (NCR), a phenomenon that intensified due to land degradation and deforestation.
"This is not just a plantation drive; it's an ecological defence mechanism for North India," said a senior official from the state department of environment. "By restoring green cover in Aravalis, we are building a natural shield against desertification, dust storms, and soil erosion.
"
Aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Aravali Green Wall Project, the initiative will be followed by a massive plantation in the coming years along the Aravali hills from Delhi to Ahmedabad.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Pierce Brosnan's Wife Lost 120 Pounds - This Is Her Now
5minstory.com
Undo
In Rajasthan, the govt is using indigenous and climate-resilient species. Among those selected are Khejri — the state tree of Rajasthan known for its deep roots and drought resistance — along with Babool, Dhak, Neem, and Ber.
Native grasses like Sevan and Dhaman will be used for soil stabilisation in areas with water scarcity.
"These species are selected not only for their adaptability to varied climates — from Sikar's dry zones to the humid areas of Dungarpur and Sirohi — but also for their role in supporting biodiversity and improving groundwater recharge," the official added.
The project spans from Alwar to Sirohi, covering approximately 550 kilometre out of 685km — nearly 80% of the Aravali range in Rajasthan. The plantation will be limited to forest land, excluding areas with human habitation or encroachments.
"The focus is on long-term sustainability. We will skip over degraded or settled lands and concentrate on forest tracts that can be revived effectively," said the official. The project is being carried out under the supervision of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, which will also monitor outcomes through indicators such as flora and fauna recovery, groundwater level changes, and microclimatic shifts.
"This is the largest ecological restoration effort ever undertaken in the Aravalis," said L.K. Sharma, Head of the Department of Environmental Studies at Central University of Rajasthan. "However, the real test will be in sustaining the plantations. In arid zones like Jaipur and Sikar, saplings often survive only six months without proper care. Maintenance is critical to achieving any meaningful ecological impact.
"
Stay updated with the latest local news from your
city
on
Times of India
(TOI). Check upcoming
bank holidays
,
public holidays
, and current
gold rates
and
silver prices
in your area.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
MCC moves for flex-free city, seeks cooperation of organisers
Mangaluru: The Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) decided to curb flex usage during the festival period, aiming to make the city 'flex-free' and thereby prevent pollution. The MCC sought support from political, religious, and social bodies to keep the city free from flex hoardings. The MCC also issued a warning that violators will face action under the Karnataka Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act. In a public notice issued on Aug 5, the MCC sought the cooperation of individuals and organisations in this direction. The MCC's public notice ahead of Sri Krishna Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, and other festivals will mandate all organisers in the city limits to stick to the rules by avoiding unauthorised flex and other public materials in public places. Meanwhile, MCC commissioner Ravichandra Naik stated that the drives to remove unauthorised hoardings, cutouts, flex banners, posters, and buntings in the city corporation limits are being conducted continuously. He also sought cooperation from the public to keep the city clean with the motto: 'flex-free festival - clean environment for our safety'. The commissioner stated that some of the organisers, cinema advertisers, and social, religious, and political organisers have been erecting cutouts and other materials in the city. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If You Eat Ginger Everyday for 1 Month This is What Happens Tips and Tricks Undo Such unauthorised flex banners and other materials are disfiguring the beauty of the city. Further, it also leads to pollution of the environment through the accumulation of solid waste, the commissioner noted. Warning action against violators, the commissioner said there is no provision under law to put up flex and other materials. "The MCC has the authority to impose penalties and file criminal cases against those who put up illegal hoardings and flex under the Karnataka Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act and govt order dated March 11, 2016. Hence, flex or banners should not be put up for any upcoming religious and other festivals," he added. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Somwarpet farmers protest against land reclassification, forest dept takeover
Madikeri: Responding to a call for a shutdown by Farmers' Agitation Committee against certain orders from the revenue and forest department, including C & D, Section-4, and Section-5, the people of Somwarpet taluk joined in solidarity, leading to a successful bandh. Farmers whose lands were reclassified as C&D lands, were being taken over by forest dept under Section-4 notices, joined the protest. They blocked traffic in the town, demanding immediate govt intervention to resolve the issue. The bandh call led to a complete shutdown in Somwarpet, Shanivarsanthe, Kodalipet, Alur Siddapur, Shanthalli, Alur Siddapur, Nandigunda, Koothi, Tholur Shettalli, Gopalapura, Gaudalli, Madapur, and other places in the taluk from morning till evening. Shops and businesses remained closed, and traders supported farmers' cause, making the bandh successful. Despite the shutdown, some private vehicles were entering Somwarpet, leading farmers to block Vivekananda Circle, expressing their anger. As the roadblock continued, tahsildar Krishnamurthy and range forest officer Shailendra Kumar arrived at the scene. Protesters attempted to explain the issue to them. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Nguyen Trai: Unsold Furniture Liquidation 2024 (Prices May Surprise You) Unsold Furniture | Search Ads Learn More Undo The RFO's statement, "If you have documents, provide them," caused a stir, leading to a heated argument and confrontation with the protesters. They insisted on calling the ACF to the site and demanded the presence of district officials. Farmer protest committee president Chakravarthy Suresh stated that the land farmed since 1978 was being reclassified as C&D land and transferred to the forest dept. Despite meeting the chief minister, revenue and forest department ministers, and chief secretary over the past year, no progress was made. Tahasildar Krishnamurthy assured that the revenue dept would respond to farmers' issues. Protesters vowed to continue the roadblock until the district officials arrived. Then DC Venkat Raja, who arrived in the afternoon, listened to the protesters' grievances. He stated that a writ petition related to the C&D land issue was already filed in the high court. A factual report will be submitted after gathering information about those settled and farming in the deemed forest and C&D land for decades. He assured that a joint survey involving revenue, forest, and survey depts would be conducted to resolve the C&D land issue. Local revenue dept, gram panchayat development officer, and elected representatives will be informed during the survey. ACF Gopal, who also met the agitators, mentioned that a committee was formed following the Supreme Court and state govt directives. District-level committees led by district officials and taluk-level committees led by tahsildars are being established. At the village level, the village accountant, PDO, and RFO will be members. The report from the survey will be submitted to the govt, and villagers should facilitate the joint survey. Protesters demanded that no notices related to C&D and Section-4 be issued to farmers and that the forest dept should not enter villages for surveys until the joint survey is conducted. DC agreed to this and assured that local leaders would be informed during the joint survey, and only reports would be submitted to the govt. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
‘Open-book exam fine, but with analytical questions'
Noida: Schools have welcomed CBSE's decision to implement an open-book exam for Class 9 from the academic year 2026-27. Principals believe that students will gain a deeper understanding of subjects, provided schools maintain integrity and questions are analytical, conceptual, and application-based. CBSE's decision came following the results of a pilot study conducted to evaluate the feasibility and acceptance of such a model. A framework and guidelines on how to conduct open-book exams effectively will be suggested to the schools. However, the implementation will not be mandatory. You Can Also Check: Noida AQI | Weather in Noida | Bank Holidays in Noida | Public Holidays in Noida | Gold Rates Today in Noida | Silver Rates Today in Noida Seema Jerath, principal of DLF School, Ghaziabad, and one of CBSE's master trainers in the pilot project, said, "Students have to extract the right information from the textbooks, and to do that, higher-order thinking skills have to be there. For an open-book exam, the question patterns need to be aligned with the policy first. Though this is a very good step, we're only 50% ready in terms of competency. Implementing it in the next academic year is risky. Teachers need time to understand the framework, plan the execution, and evaluate fairly." She stressed that the new format must go beyond surface-level questioning. "The right kind of research and planning is needed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like We Have No Words For Dog The Bounty Hunter's Transformation Paperela Undo Questions must test analytical skills and evaluation—not simply allow students to lift answers from textbooks," she added. Aditi Basu Roy, principal of Grad International School, Noida, underscored the need for ethical implementation. "The exam process must be handled with integrity. While open-book exams do exist in law, they must not become shortcuts," she told TOI. Some teachers also called the decision 'progressive and much-needed'. The initiative aligns with the vision of the NEP 2020 and the NCFSE 2023, as it moves the focus from rote memorisation to deep conceptual understanding, problem-solving, and real-world application of knowledge. "CBSE has already implemented Open Text Based Assessment (OTBA), which helps students engage more deeply with content, make cross-curricular connections, and develop analytical skills beyond textbook learning. Building on that experience, the new open-book assessment framework is poised to further nurture critical thinking and lifelong learning skills, while reducing exam-related stress and making assessments more meaningful and relevant for the 21st-century learner," said Neha Sharma, principal of Apeejay School, Noida. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
