Latest news with #PeopleforAravallis
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Protect whatever is left of Aravallis, combat illegal mining, environmental group urges Haryana government
The government needs to take immediate action to preserve what remains of the two billion-year-old Aravalli range, People for Aravallis, a collective of environmentalists and citizens, stated in a report on Friday. The report, forwarded to Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, stressed that these forests have crucial 'ecological functions of being South Haryana's and Delhi-NCR's critical water recharge zone, only barrier against desertification, pollution sink, climate regulator and wildlife habitat'. Spread over 692 km, the Aravallis cover Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi and Haryana. In Haryana, they are found in the southwest part of the state, covering five divisions: Gurgaon, Faridabad, Mewat, Mahendargarh, and Rewari. Extensively documenting the destruction and deforestation caused by illegal mining and other commercial activities in the Aravallis, the 70-page report makes a host of recommendations to alleviate the situation and salvage what remains. The collective sought to have the entire forest stretch designated a 'Critical Ecological Zone' and to commission independent studies to quantify the value and destruction of the ecosystem services provided by the Aravalli mountain region. It further called for laws against ecological crimes, specifically to penalise those indulging in illegal mining, encroachments, tree felling, poaching, and waste dumping in the Aravallis. The diversion of Aravalli land for real estate projects by the Haryana government should be halted, and the state should withdraw its appeal against the Supreme Court's ban on mining in the area, it said. 'Current ill health of the Aravalli range (as brought out in this Citizens' Report) cannot afford more extraction of natural resources for construction as it is jeopardising the principle of sustainability. To save what is left of the 2 billion year old Aravalli range and the ecosystem services it provides, it is crucial to mainstream alternatives for the use of virgin stone mined from the mountains across Haryana, Rajasthan & Gujarat. The real estate and infrastructure sectors should be directed to find alternative sources for meeting their requirements. Industry can commission independent studies and assessments to seek/source the building materials from alternative sources that they can use for the next 50 years,' it said. The report also sought compensation for those with serious illnesses resulting from mining-induced pollution in the region. It also sought that the government devise and implement an action plan to remove invasive plant species across the Aravalli belt, and undertake the planting of native species. It said the Haryana Forest Department should impose a complete ban on planting trees like papdi and kabli jikar in public places, near roads, and around ponds, as these trees release harmful gases that negatively impact the health of humans and animals. The collective also sought the revival of dried-up rivers and seasonal streams in Haryana, like Dohan and Krishnawati. It also proposed the removal of water-intensive factories near these areas and the Sabu River, as well as all other encroachments, to allow the groundwater to recharge naturally.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Haryana: Citizens' report calls for 'no-go' zones for mining in the Aravallis
CHANDIGARH: A citizens' report has been submitted to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, demanding the declaration of 'NO-GO' areas for mining and stone crushing in the Aravallis. It also calls for a law that classifies the destruction of this ancient mountain range as an ecological crime in Haryana. The report, titled 'State of the Haryana Aravallis: Citizens' Report – Part 1', was submitted by the environmental collective 'People for Aravallis'. It outlines the status of the Aravalli range across seven Haryana districts, Nuh, Faridabad, Gurugram, Rewari, Mahendergarh, Charkhi Dadri and Bhiwani. The report highlights that due to rampant mining (both licensed and illegal), deforestation, encroachments, and diversion of Aravalli land for various projects, the two-billion-year-old range is on the brink of extinction. Neelam Ahluwalia, Founder Member of People for Aravallis, said, 'This report is the first in the series of reports that our group is sharing with our elected representatives and bureaucracy, on the dismal health of our 'lifeline' which is vital for clean air and water security." "In the backdrop of the Supreme Court this week expressing serious concern over continuing illegal mining across the 670-kilometre Aravalli range and giving the Centre-led Committee a final two-month deadline to arrive at a 'uniform definition of the ecologically crucial mountain range', this report highlights the extremely worrying status of the Aravalli hills and forests in Haryana,' she said. She added that the destruction has resulted from a lack of legal safeguards and ground-level protection, with significant consequences for the environment and public health in the region.
New Indian Express
23-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Environmentalists urge MoEFCC to reconsider implementation of Aravalli green wall project
Environmentalists are urging the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to reconsider the implementation of the Aravalli Green Wall Project, warning that the plan poses significant risks to India's oldest mountain range. The statement was made by the 'People for Aravallis' group shortly after Union Minister Bhupender Yadav announced during a national workshop in Rajasthan on 22 May 2025 that the project would enhance green cover and biodiversity in the Aravalli range. Neelam Ahluwalia, a founding member of the non-profit People for Aravallis, expressed concern about the project's implementation through the 'Green Credit Programme' for eco-restoration work in the Aravalli landscape. Additionally, a legal petition is currently pending in the Supreme Court, filed in early March 2025 by People for Aravallis and the Goa-based group 'Rainbow Warriors'. This petition challenges the existing Green Credit Rules (GCR), emphasising that the rules inadequately address the responsibility of the entity seeking green credits. Specifically, the GCR focuses only on the initial planting of trees and does not ensure the long-term survival of those trees. Further, the GCR allows the plantation of 1,100 trees per hectare without any scientific study and permits plantations in fragile ecosystems such as open forests, scrublands, wastelands and catchment areas.
