Citizens Demand Law to Declare Aravalli Destruction an Ecological Crime
The report also reveals how in Mahendergarh’s Rajawas village, even land designated as ‘Protected Forest’ was auctioned for mining in violation of environmental norms, threatening rich biodiversity and endangered species.
Verdicto News Desk
Delhi, May 30, 2025: In a powerful appeal to protect India’s oldest mountain range, the group People for Aravallis submitted a Citizens’ Report titled “State of the Haryana Aravallis: Citizens’ Report – Part 1” to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. The report highlights the alarming degradation of the Aravalli hills across seven Haryana districts — Nuh, Faridabad, Gurugram, Rewari, Mahendergarh, Charkhi Dadri, and Bhiwani — due to rampant illegal and licensed mining, deforestation, encroachments, and poor enforcement of environmental laws.
This extensive report has been endorsed by several heavyweights in the environmental and public policy sphere: internationally acclaimed water conservationist Dr Rajendra Singh (the Waterman of India), renowned agriculture policy expert Dr Devinder Sharma, and three retired Indian Forest Service officers and one retired IAS officer with decades of experience in environmental governance. Additionally, respected environmental organisations such as Vanashakti (Maharashtra), Goa Foundation, United Conservation Movement, and the National Alliance of Climate & Ecological Justice have backed the report, adding nationwide credibility and urgency to the findings.
The report warns that in two districts, most of the Aravallis have already been wiped out by mining. Over 60 illegal mining hotspots have been documented in Mahendergarh, Nuh, and Gurugram. The report also reveals how in Mahendergarh’s Rajawas village, even land designated as ‘Protected Forest’ was auctioned for mining in violation of environmental norms, threatening rich biodiversity and endangered species.
The group demands the creation of a national law that classifies the destruction of the Aravallis as an "ecological crime"—punishable by stringent legal action, including against government officials who fail to protect these hills. “The survival of millions in Delhi-NCR and Haryana depends on these ancient hills that regulate our air, water, and climate,” said Dr R.P. Balwan, retired Haryana forest officer and author of The Aravalli Ecosystems – Mystery of the Civilizations.
The report includes a detailed ecological restoration roadmap prepared by senior experts like Dr Faiyaz Khudsar (CEMDE), Rewilder Vijay Dhasmana, and ecologists Dr Pia Sethi, Dr Ghazala Shahabuddin, and Dr Sumit Dookia.
With the Supreme Court recently expressing concern over illegal mining in the Aravallis and demanding a unified definition of the range, this report serves as a blueprint for urgent legal, ecological, and administrative action.
Read Report: State of the Haryana Aravallis: Citizens’ Report – Part 1
