International Mountain Day: Aravalis in Peril

Aravali’s landscape, ecology, forests, geology, hydrogeology, have served mankind for ages. It is important to take action to preserve these resources for future generations. — Dr. Jaya Sharma

December 11 is observed and celebrated as the International Mountain Day world over. Mountains are an integral part of our ecosystem. They help to precipitate rains, provide expanded surface area for rich vegetation, feed the rivers and high-rise mountains are also home to glaciers, feeding perennial rivers. 

Aravali Mountain Range is the Unique Gift of Nature

It is one of the oldest geographical landforms on Earth, dating back to Proterozoic era, making it significantly older than other mountain ranges such as the Western Ghats, Vindhyachal, Satpura, Nilgiri, and the Himalaya. The exact age of the range is not clear, but it is believed to be several hundred million years old. Aravali Range extends for a distance of approximately 800 kilometers (500 miles) across four states in north-western India: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi. It also extends underground in the state of Uttarakhand up to the city of Haridwar.

In Indian culture, mountains are revered for their generosity and are considered sacred, and hence worshipped. However, Aravalis are facing serious peril. Its wildlife, ancient drainage paths, unique hydrogeology, and holistic ecosystem, of millions of years and even their very existence is at stake. These mountains, which have stood for eons and are home to a range of native flora and fauna, have also served as a protective barrier for the capital city of the Mewar kingdom, Udaipur, defending it from invaders. Many ancient and historical forts, which provided secure, fortified habitats for indigenous communities, have been built on these hills.

The Age-Old Lifeline

The Aravali Range serves as a lifeline to the nearby areas providing a bounty of quintessential resources. It serves as a natural barrier for the northern and north-western regions of India, preventing further desertification in eastern Rajasthan and the North Indian plains. It also protects these areas from cold winds coming from the north and helps maintain their greenery. Aravali range is instrumental in bringing rainfall to Rajasthan and its neighboring states by catching and directing the monsoon winds coming from the Arabian Sea. This way Aravali plays a vital role in the ecological and climatic well-being of the region. Since Aravali is a fold mountain range, it serves as a reliable source of rivers and water catchment areas, which means a consistently recharged groundwater level. Additionally, the range is rich in natural resources and is the origin point for numerous rivers. 

The Aravali landscape has shaped the Indian subcontinent and its climate, and has always remained an integral part of northwestern India. Inspite of this exuberance significance, it faces threat of extinction and dilapidation. The deterioration of the Aravali Range is primarily the result of urban sprawl and development, illegal mining and rampant widening of roads. Repeated interventions of the High Court and Supreme Court are also proving ineffective against the human greed and government’s apathy. Mining is prohibited in the ecologically sensitive Aravali region unless specifically approved by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Yet, large-scale illegal mining continues to take place despite this prohibition.

Serious Threat to Their Existence and Ecosystem

The constant increase in population has led to illegal encroachments and a corresponding increase in demand for resources like timber, marble, and granite, resulting in the depletion of forests and damage to the ecosystem. These resources have been extracted beyond sustainable levels. Illegal mining activities have also disturbed the existence of numerous water bodies in the Aravali Range, and has led to the disappearance of 31 of the original 128 hills in Rajasthan alone. If this trend continues, it is possible that the desert will eventually extend into the north eastern plains. 

The mountain range was a significant habitat to more than 300 species of native plants and exclusive animals like leopards, golden jackals, nilgay, Indian gazelle, and rare birds’ species, which are now on the verge of extinction from the region. The rocks beneath the Aravali Range, such as granite and quartz, are aquifer rocks that serve as reservoirs of groundwater. However, the over-extraction of these rocks has resulted in a decline in the groundwater level in the surrounding area. In the recent past, the groundwater level in the vicinity of the Aravali Range was higher than it is currently. 

The mountains have sustained irreparable damage, with soil erosion leading to a lack of vegetation and the formation of cracks on the rocks due to temperature fluctuations (during the day, the rocks absorb heat, while at night they experience a drop in temperature). This has resulted in barren, rocky terrain that will be difficult to reforest. The absence of vegetation on the surface has also contributed to land sliding. These factors together present a significant challenge for the regeneration of these mountains.

Way Forward  

Massive reforestation efforts should be undertaken on these barren hills to bring them back to life. Strict action should be taken against those who clear the forest cover. It is imperative that the mountain range be protected from further harm and that new policies be implemented to repair the damaged ecosystem, conserve lost biodiversity, and preserve remaining resources. Any construction activity in and around Aravali Range should be prohibited. The expansion of urban areas into and around the mountains must also be halted. 

It is necessary to exercise restraint in our resource consumption and to extract only the quantity that is required. We should also strive to reuse resources as much as possible. Additionally, we should be more mindful of resources that bear environmental costs to obtain and are frequently discarded without consideration, such as stapler pins and sharpener blades. In terms of road construction, it is advisable to reconsider the traditional approach of using freshly quarried rocks every time a road is built. Instead, the old road could be repurposed by scraping and using its concrete along with scrap tires, which are produced in volumes globally every year. This would not only conserve valuable mountains and their resources, but also address the issue of waste management.

While it is not possible to fully restore the mountains to their original state or reverse the damage that has been done, it is still possible to prevent any further harm. Aravali’s landscape, ecology, forests, geology, hydrogeology, have served mankind for ages. It is important to take action to preserve these resources for future generations. By recklessly and excessively destroying this ancient mountain range, we risk inviting a natural disaster that will be beyond control. It is necessary to strike a balance between environmental conservation and development, rather than prioritizing the latter at the expense of the former. 

Share This