No less than 150 residents from throughout Gurugram, Rajasthan and NCR on Saturday organised a silent protest towards what they referred to as “the destruction of the Aravalli vary”. The demonstration, organised by the Aravalli Bachao Residents motion, was held at Civil Strains.
The march was organised in response to a latest Supreme Courtruling of November 20 that defines the Aravalli Hills by a 100-metre elevation. Protesters argued that such a slim interpretation dangers excluding huge stretches of forest land, wildlife corridors and groundwater recharge zones from authorized safety, leaving them weak to mining, development and different types of growth.
Ranging from John Corridor, the march proceeded in direction of the residence of Haryana forest minister Rao Narbir Singh. Individuals noticed full silence all through the route, holding placards that highlighted the ecological, climatic and social significance of the Aravalli vary.
Vaishali Rana, trustee of Aravalli Bachao, mentioned that the choice undermines a long time of environmental understanding. “We is not going to enable the federal government, bureaucrats, politicians and even the judiciary to open up the sacred Aravallis for destruction. Defining the Aravallis solely by a peak of 100 metres is deeply flawed and ignores the ecological actuality of this historical mountain vary,” mentioned Rana. “The forests, aquifers and biodiversity don’t start or finish at an arbitrary elevation. This judgment threatens the very survival of the ecosystem.”
Environmentalists mentioned the Aravallis function a pure barrier towards desertification, notably stopping the unfold of sand from the Thar desert into Haryana, Delhi and components of western Uttar Pradesh. In addition they play a vital position in groundwater recharge and assist average excessive temperatures within the NCR, which has seen worsening heatwaves and air air pollution through the years.
“The suitable to life underneath the Structure consists of the appropriate to scrub air and water,” mentioned Rana.
Roma J Vinayak, one of many contributors mentioned that the judiciary has all the time been the final refuge for environmental safety on this nation. “The Aravalli vary varieties the cultural and strategic spine of Mewar—shaping its forts, settlements, water methods, and the historic resilience of Rajput polities. To erode the Aravallis is to erode each ecology and historical past,” she mentioned.
Sangeeta Nayyar from Aravalli Bachao Residents Motion mentioned, “We’ve got on file misplaced virtually 31 Hills to the strain of mining mafias and enterprise barons. They’ve been devastating our historical Aravallis,” she mentioned.
Col (retd) S Oberoi, trustee of the Aravalli Bachao Residents motion, submitted a memorandum detailing the group’s calls for to the minister’s workers, urging the state authorities to take a agency stand to guard your complete Aravalli panorama, no matter elevation.
Organisers mentioned the march is a part of a wider residents’ motion unfolding throughout north India, together with parallel campaigns in Rajasthan.
When requested concerning the matter, cupboard minister Rao Narbir Singh mentioned that he was in Chandigarh on Saturday. “I’ll return subsequent week and meet with the individuals to debate the options,” he mentioned.
