Bringing the Aravallis back to life

Subject :Geography

Section: Indian geography

Context:

Tree species like Sheesham, babool and others planted over 75 hectares of land that was previously mined illegally are helping restore greenery and bring back wildlife.

Mining activities in Aravallis:

The Aravallis spanning Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan have been infamous for stone mining to fuel the construction boom in the National Capital Region.
Impact of indiscriminate mining include:
- Widespread reduction in hill ranges
- Formation of deep crater-like lakes filled with rainwater
- Brown and rugged pyramid-like structures formation
- Increased pollution: Air, water and soil pollution

Steps taken to protect the Aravallis from mining:

Rajasthan forest department joined forces with the police to stop the mining activities in these areas.
Plantation activity started in 2019-2020 and the local residents were involved in the plantation process.
The area was covered with locally available moonj grass to provide livelihood options to the local residents.
The grass is useful for:
- Binding the soil
- Thatching roofs
- Making brooms, handicrafts and furniture items
Outcome of the efforts:
- A few months after the plantation, a baya weaver bird was spotted.
- Antelope and Nilgai were also spotted.
- Women started to growing and harvesting the Jau (Barley) crop.

About Aravallis:

The Aravalli Range (also spelled Aravali) is a mountain range in Northwestern India.
It runs approximately 670 km (430 mi) in a southwest direction, starting near Delhi, passing through southern Haryana and Rajasthan, and ending in Gujarat.
The highest peak is Guru Shikhar at 1,722 metres (5,650 ft). Guru Shikhar is a peak in the Arbuda Mountains of Rajasthan. It is 15 km from Mount Abu.
Three major rivers and their tributaries flow from the Aravalli, namely Banas and Sahibi Rivers which are tributaries of Yamuna, as well as the Luni River which flows into the Rann of Kutch.
The Aravalli Range is arguably the oldest geological feature on Earth, having its origin in the Proterozoic era.
The Aravalli Range is rich in natural resources and serves as a check to the growth of the western desert.