News Mania / Agnibeena Ghosh/5th May 2024
The Supreme Court emphasized the necessity of striking a balance between sustainable development and environmental protection while addressing the issue of illegal mining in the Aravalli area during a session on Thursday.
Justices B R Gavai and Abhay S Oka directed both the Centre and state governments to halt illegal mining activities and ensure appropriate action against responsible officials.
Highlighting the urgency of the matter, the bench stressed the importance of preserving the Aravalli hills, stating, “Illegal mining in the Aravallis has to stop. The authorities have to ensure that the requisite steps are taken in this regard. Otherwise, what is the benefit of having only skeletal structures in the name of mountains? A balance has to made between sustainable development and protection of the environment.”
The disappearance of hills in the Aravalli range due to illegal mining, land encroachment, and urbanization has been linked to the surge in sandstorms in Rajasthan, as revealed by a study conducted by the Central University Rajasthan. The study, titled “Assessment of land-use dynamics of the Aravalli range (India) using integrated geospatial and CART approach,” conducted by Professor Sharma and PhD scholar Alok Raj, was recently published in the international journal Earth Science Informatics.
According to Professor LK Sharma, the head of Environmental Science at CURAJ, the vanishing hills have contributed to the increase in sandstorms, particularly in regions like Bharatpur, Dholpur, Jaipur, and Chittorgarh.
The study documented the disappearance of 31 hills in the upper Aravalli range over the past two decades, along with significant deforestation leading to barren land and settlement expansion. The conversion of forest areas into settlements has resulted in a substantial reduction in forest cover, with approximately 21.64% of forest land projected to transition into settlement areas by 2059.
Professor Sharma emphasized the detrimental impact of unchecked mining and urbanization on the environment, which has not only led to the loss of biodiversity but also escalated human-wildlife conflicts. The disappearance of hills has encroached upon the habitats of various species, resulting in increased instances of animals entering human settlements in search of food.
The report also raised concerns about the escalating dust storms since 2018, which have claimed lives and caused significant damage to properties. It called for a review and suspension of mining leases in vulnerable areas and recommended stringent legislative and regulatory measures to limit human intervention in the Aravalli range.
In conclusion, the study emphasized the importance of implementing effective strategies to curb illegal mining and land encroachment, along with consistent monitoring and enforcement efforts to safeguard the ecological integrity of the Aravalli range.
