Context & The Gist
The article discusses the recent acceptance by the Supreme Court of a Union Environment Ministry panel’s definition of the Aravalli Range, based on a 100-meter elevation threshold. This definition significantly reduces the area considered part of the Aravalli, potentially jeopardizing its ecological functions and contradicting previous SC rulings recognizing the Aravalli as a unified ecosystem crucial for North India’s environmental health.
Key Arguments & Nuances
- Shrinking Aravalli Area: The new definition, based on elevation, drastically reduces the Aravalli’s area in Rajasthan, ignoring the Forest Survey of India’s (FSI) broader mapping of hills.
- Contradiction with Ministry’s Plan: The decision clashes with the Environment Ministry’s own Aravalli Landscape Restoration Action Plan, which emphasizes protecting the range from threats like deforestation and mining.
- Ignoring Past SC Rulings: The height filter contradicts previous Supreme Court judgments recognizing the Aravalli’s hills, plateaus, and ridges as a single, interconnected ecosystem vital for pollution control and preventing desertification.
- Risk of Increased Mining: The redefined Aravalli area is likely to lead to increased mining activities, despite reports highlighting significant hill loss and the need for sustainable practices.
UPSC Syllabus Relevance
- GS Paper II: Governance – Environmental Issues: The case highlights the challenges in balancing development with environmental protection, and the role of judicial intervention in environmental governance.
- GS Paper III: Environment & Ecology – Conservation: The Aravalli Range is a critical ecological zone, and the article discusses its importance for biodiversity, water recharge, and desertification control.
- GS Paper III: Economy – Natural Resources: The issue of mining in ecologically sensitive areas and the need for sustainable resource management are central to this topic.
Prelims Data Bank
- Aravalli Range: Extends approximately 700 km from Gujarat to Haryana, passing through Rajasthan and Delhi.
- Forest Survey of India (FSI): An institution under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, responsible for assessing India’s forest cover.
- Central Empowered Committee (CEC): A committee constituted by the Supreme Court to monitor the implementation of its orders related to environmental protection. (Report in 2018 highlighted 25% hill loss in Aravalli)
Mains Critical Analysis
The core issue revolves around the definition of ‘Aravalli’ and its implications for environmental protection. The adoption of a height-based criterion represents a significant departure from previous understandings and poses a threat to the range’s ecological integrity. The PESTLE framework reveals:
- Political: SC’s acceptance of the government panel’s recommendation raises questions about the influence of development priorities on environmental policy.
- Economic: Increased mining in the declassified area could boost short-term economic gains but at the cost of long-term ecological damage.
- Social: The degradation of the Aravalli impacts local communities dependent on its resources and exacerbates environmental risks for urban centers like Delhi and Gurugram.
- Technological: Improved mapping technologies (like those used by FSI) offer more comprehensive assessments of ecological zones, which should inform policy decisions.
- Legal: The SC’s decision needs to be reconciled with its own past rulings and the principles of environmental law.
- Environmental: The most significant impact – loss of biodiversity, increased desertification, reduced water recharge, and compromised air quality.
A critical gap lies in the lack of a holistic ecosystem-based approach to Aravalli conservation. Focusing solely on elevation ignores the interconnectedness of the region’s geological formations and their collective ecological functions.
Value Addition
- M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (2002): Landmark SC case emphasizing the need to protect the Aravalli Range.
- Rajasthan Forest Department Initiatives: Efforts towards afforestation and water conservation in the Aravalli region.
- Quote: “The Aravalli is not merely a collection of hills; it is a lifeline for millions.” – Environmentalist Sunita Narain (Illustrative).
The Way Forward
- Immediate Measure: The Environment Ministry should present a comprehensive plan to the SC, demonstrating a commitment to protecting the Aravalli’s ecological functions, even in areas outside the 100-meter elevation threshold.
- Long-term Reform: Adopt a holistic, ecosystem-based approach to Aravalli conservation, integrating the FSI’s broader mapping data and prioritizing sustainable land use practices. Strengthen enforcement mechanisms to prevent illegal mining and encroachment.