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Ecological Threat of Mining in Aravalli Hills and Conservation Needs

Source:Indian Express ↗

Why It Matters

The Aravalli range is indispensable to the ecological security of North-Western India, particularly the NCR. Its degradation through mining threatens to accelerate desertification and water scarcity, making it a critical case study for UPSC topics related to environmental impact assessments, ecological sensitive zones (ESZs), and sustainable resource management.

Summary

Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh has flagged the severe threat that rampant and illegal mining poses to the Aravalli hills. Recognizing the range's critical role as an ecological barrier that prevents desertification and supports regional groundwater recharge, he has pushed for dedicated budgetary allocations to ensure its conservation and restoration. This underscores ongoing governance challenges in protecting ecologically sensitive mountain systems from extractive industries.

Key Points

  • Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh highlighted the severe ecological threats posed by unchecked mining activities in the Aravalli hill range.
  • He advocated for dedicated budgetary support to fund the conservation and ecological restoration of the Aravallis.
  • The Aravallis are crucial for acting as a natural barrier against the eastward expansion of the Thar Desert and maintaining the groundwater table in Northwest India.
  • The call for intervention underscores the urgent need to strictly regulate ecologically sensitive zones and balance resource extraction with environmental preservation.

Prelims Trap

The Aravalli Green Wall Project is an independent statutory Central Sector Scheme with an exclusive budgetary allocation.

It is actually implemented through convergence with existing government schemes, utilizing combined funds from MGNREGA, CAMPA, and the Green India Mission.

Static Concepts Connected

Geography

What are the key geographical and ecological features of the Aravalli Range?

  • Relict fold mountain: One of the oldest fold mountain systems globally, it has been highly denuded over time into a relict or residual mountain range.
  • Geographical extent: Spans approximately 692 km from Himmatnagar in Gujarat, through Rajasthan and Haryana, ending at the Delhi Ridge.
  • Climatic divide: Acts as a water divide between the Indus and Ganga basins and serves as a barrier preventing Thar desertification.
Environment & Ecology

How is the Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAMPA) structured for ecological restoration?

  • Statutory backing: Established under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) Act, 2016 to manage funds collected from agencies for diverting forest land for non-forest purposes.
  • Fund distribution: Levies collected are distributed as 90% to the respective State Funds and 10% to the National Fund.
  • Restricted usage: Can be used for catchment treatment and wildlife management, but is strictly prohibited for paying state forest department salaries or administrative expenses.

Cross-Topic Patterns

  • Aravalli mining ban vs. NCR construction

    The SC freeze on Aravalli mining creates supply-side shocks for construction materials in Delhi-NCR, linking ecological conservation directly to urban infrastructure inflation and supply chain bottlenecks.

  • Great Green Wall and UNCCD targets

    India's Aravalli Green Wall mirrors Africa's Sahel initiative, serving as a core mechanism to achieve India's UNCCD commitment of restoring 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.

SC's 2025 "100m local relief" definition of Aravallis and Green Wall scheme convergence (CAMPA/MGNREGA) is a prime 2026 Prelims target.

Linked PYQs · 4

Linked PYQs · 4

  • 2025MainsGS3

    Mineral resources are fundamental to the country's economy and these are exploited by mining. Why is mining considered an environmental hazard? Explain the remedial measures required to reduce the environmental hazard due to mining.

  • 2013MainsGS3

    What are the consequences of Illegal mining ? Discuss the Ministry of Environment and Forests' concept of GO AND NO GO zones for coal mining sector.

  • 2019MainsGS1

    How can the mountain ecosystem be restored from the negative impact of development initiatives and tourism?

  • 2020MainsGS1

    The process of desertification does not have climatic boundaries. Justify with examples.