Answer

Introduction

The Supreme Court recently reinforced its “Green Bench” mandate, directing Rajasthan and Haryana to halt illegal mining and unauthorized construction in the Aravallis. Recognizing the range as a critical ecological barrier, the Court emphasized that “the right to a clean environment” outweighs short-term economic gains from mineral extraction.

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Ecological Significance of the Aravalli Range

• Desertification Barrier: The range acts as a natural “green wall,” preventing the eastward expansion of the Thar Desert toward the fertile Indo-Gangetic plains.
  Eg: The breach of Aravalli gaps has significantly increased dust storm intensity in the National Capital Region (NCR).
• Groundwater Recharge: The fractured rocks of these ancient mountains serve as a massive catchment area, replenishing aquifers for water-stressed cities like Delhi and Gurugram.
  Eg: Hydrologists estimate that the Aravallis contribute nearly 80% of the groundwater recharge for South Delhi and Faridabad.
• Biodiversity Hotspot: It provides a critical wildlife corridor and habitat for leopards, hyenas, and rare flora, connecting the Sariska Tiger Reserve to northern forests.
  Eg: The “Aravalli Safari Park” project underscores the range’s importance in preserving the regional leopard population.
• Climate Regulation: The hills influence local rainfall patterns and act as a carbon sink, mitigating the “urban heat island” effect in the surrounding megacities.
  Eg: The degradation of Aravalli forest cover has been directly linked to a 2-3°C rise in summer temperatures in nearby urban clusters.

Associated Concerns

• Illegal Mining: Despite bans, illegal stone and sand mining continue to flatten hillocks, destroying the range’s structural integrity and water-holding capacity.
  Eg: Over 31 hills in the Rajasthan portion of the Aravallis have “vanished” due to unregulated mining activities.
• Encroachment Pressures: Rapid urbanization and real-estate “land-grabbing” in forest areas lead to fragmentation of habitats and increased human-wildlife conflict..
• Definition Ambiguity: The lack of a clear legal definition for “forest” and “hills” allows developers to exploit loopholes in the Forest Conservation Act.
  Eg: Rajasthan’s inconsistent categorization of “Gair Mumkin Pahar” has facilitated industrial encroachment on ecologically sensitive land.
• Waste Dumping: Abandoned mines and forest fringes are increasingly used as unauthorized dumping grounds for construction debris and municipal solid waste.
  Eg: The Bandhwari landfill in the Aravallis poses a severe threat of leaching toxins into the regional groundwater.

Judicial Intervention: Balancing Environment and Development

• Polluter Pays Principle: The Court imposes heavy environmental compensation on mining firms to fund the restoration of degraded ecological zones.
  Eg: SC directed the creation of a “Restoration Fund” from fines collected from illegal mining operators in Haryana.
• Precautionary Principle: Halting developmental projects in “Eco-Sensitive Zones” (ESZ) until comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) are independently verified.
  Eg: The Court’s stay on the “Aravalli Safari” construction until its impact on the local leopard corridor is fully assessed.
• Public Trust Doctrine: Ensuring that the state acts as a trustee of natural resources, preventing the conversion of forest commons into private commercial assets.
• Sustainable Mining Alternatives: Encouraging the government to explore manufactured sand (M-Sand) and recycling to reduce the dependency on Aravalli stone.
  Eg: Judiciary has urged the adoption of the “Circular Economy” model in the construction sector to protect natural hill ranges.

Conclusion

The Aravallis are not just geological relics but the lifeline for Northern India’s environmental stability. Judicial activism, while crucial, must be complemented by the “Aravalli Green Wall Project” and community-led conservation. Only by institutionalizing “Ecological Federalism” can India ensure that the thirst for infrastructure does not permanently parch its most ancient and vital natural defense system.

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