New Delhi (ABC Live): India's decision to protect the Aravalli Range marks a strategic shift in governance. Earlier, policymakers viewed the range as fragmented land parcels. Now, the State treats it as critical ecological infrastructure. Importantly, this shift rests on evidence, not ideology. As a result, the Aravallis have moved from the margins of environmental debate to the centre of national risk planning.
For decades, authorities regulated mining districts by district. However, the Aravallis function as a single connected ridge system. Therefore, damage in one location weakens the entire chain. In contrast, local bans failed because mining activity simply shifted elsewhere. Consequently, ecological stress accumulated despite repeated interventions.
The Aravallis act like a natural sponge. First, rainfall enters fractured rock layers. Then, water moves slowly into deep aquifers. However, mining removes these layers. As a result, recharge drops sharply. Consequently, groundwater levels fall faster and recover more slowly. Therefore, even normal monsoon years now fail to stabilise water tables.
Trees slow the spread temporarily. However, rocky hill systems stop wind erosion permanently. When mining flattens ridges, then sand and dry air move freely eastward. As a result, fertile land degrades faster. Therefore, Aravalli protection directly supports long-term food security.
The Aravallis shape wind and surface heat. Where hills remain intact, therefore, temperature spikes stay lower. In contrast, where hills disappear, heat builds rapidly. Consequently, cities like Gurugram experience stronger urban heat islands. Thus, Aravalli protection doubles as climate adaptation.
Hills' slow rainfall runoff. However, mining removes slopes. As a result, rain turns into surface flow almost instantly. Therefore, drains fail even during short showers. Ultimately, ecological damage converts water scarcity into sudden flooding.
At first glance, sightings suggest recovery. However, the opposite is true. Instead, animals move closer to humans because habitats shrink. Moreover, broken corridors reduce genetic diversity. Therefore, Aravalli protection supports both conservation and safety.
The Aravallis trap dust before it reaches cities. When hills vanish, then dust corridors open. Consequently, pollution rises and health costs increase. Importantly, no mechanical solution can replace this natural service.
Mining delivers quick revenue. However, it destroys long-term value. In contrast, ecosystem services compound over time. Therefore, protection is not anti-growth. Instead, it reflects risk-aware economic governance.
India already sees how damaged hills worsen disasters in the Himalayas. Similarly, Aravalli degradation magnifies risk in dry regions. ABC Live has explained this clearly:
š https://abclive.in/2025/08/17/himalayan-cloudbursts-2025-data-drivers-fixes/
Thus, different terrains teach the same lesson: once natural buffers fail, damage escalates rapidly.
Editorial Insight:
India's hills operate as silent infrastructure. In the Himalayas, slope damage magnifies cloudburst impact. Likewise, in the Aravallis, ridge damage magnifies water stress, dust flow, and land loss. Therefore, protecting hill systems is not symbolism. It is preventive governance.
The Aravalli Range supports water security, desert control, climate balance, flood moderation, air quality, and biodiversity. Therefore, its protection is not optional. Ultimately, safeguarding the Aravallis safeguards India's long-term stability.