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Aravali Hills Face Destruction: Residents Demand Action
29 Oct
Summary
- Villagers raised concerns over hill destruction and illegal mining.
- A Supreme Court panel is reviewing Aravali hills' definition.
- Residents demand protected forest land be declared a conservation reserve.
A Supreme Court-appointed committee, tasked with redefining and demarcating the Aravali hills, recently visited villages in south Haryana. During these consultations, local communities voiced significant concerns about ongoing hill destruction, illegal mining operations, and the alarming depletion of groundwater resources.
Villagers in Mahendergarh's Rajawas highlighted fears over land notified as protected forest being proposed for auction. They advocated for the broader Aravali landscape to be officially recognized as a conservation reserve. Meanwhile, in Ramalwas, Charkhi Dadri, residents detailed how prolonged quarrying has damaged hills and biodiversity, leading to dried wells and structural damage to homes due to blasting.
The committee, which includes former Union environment ministry official Brij Mohan Singh Rathore and Prof Jagdish Krishnaswamy, is also conducting geospatial analysis to assess proposed definitions. The panel is expected to submit its final report by November 30, 2026, following extensive stakeholder engagement and field assessments.
Concerns were also raised about mining activities in neighboring Ushmapur, allegedly impacting air quality and agriculture. Environmental advocates urged the committee to recommend a ban on mining in water-stressed zones and to conduct comprehensive assessments of the cumulative environmental impact across the Aravali range.
