“ILLEGAL MINING AND ENCROACHMENTS THREATEN ARAVALI’S ECOLOGICAL BALANCE”

Why in the news?

The Aravali range is under severe threat due to illegal mining, deforestation, and encroachments, leading to environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity, as highlighted in a recent study.

"ILLEGAL MINING AND ENCROACHMENTS THREATEN ARAVALI'S ECOLOGICAL BALANCE" - UPSCsource:medium

Understanding the threats to the Aravali Range:

  • Environmental Degradation:
    • The Aravali range, stretching from Gujarat to Delhi, acts as a natural green wall in northwestern India but faces severe threats from illegal mining, deforestation, and encroachments.
    • These activities have led to environmental degradation, loss of vegetation, and soil cover, and depletion of groundwater reserves, affecting the region’s biodiversity.
  • Scientific Findings:
    • A study on the land use dynamics of the Aravali range (post-1975) highlights significant changes, including a reduction in forest area by 0.9% from 1999 to 2019.
    • Human settlements increased from 4.5% in 1975 to 13.3% in 2019, while mining areas grew from 1.8% to 2.2%.
    • The Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) showed poor biomass conditions in certain areas, particularly in the upper central Aravalli region.
Aravalli Hills & Ranges: Key Points

  • Definition according to Forest Survey of India(FSI): Includes hills and a 100-metre buffer zone around downsides (Forest Survey of India).
  • Formation: Oldest fold mountains, formed by orogenic movement during the Proterozoic Era when the pre-Indian subcontinent collided with the Eurasian Plate.
  • Extent & Location: Stretches 692 km from Raisina Hills (New Delhi) to Khedbrahma (Gujarat), passing through Haryana and Rajasthan; 80% lies in Rajasthan.
  • Key Ranges: Sambhar Sirohi and Sambhar Khetri ranges in Rajasthan.
  • Highest Peak: Guru Shikhar (1,722 m) in Mount Abu.
  • Physiography: Rugged, rocky, and hilly terrain with rocky outcrops.
  • Rivers: Major rivers include Banas, Luni, Sahibi.
  • Minerals: Rich in copper, zinc, marble, lead, silver; mining dates back to the 5th century BC.
  • Tribal Communities: Inhabited by Bhil, Bhil-Meena, Meena, Garasia, and others.

What is Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI)?

  • Definition: Advanced vegetation index that improves sensitivity to biomass and corrects for atmospheric and soil conditions.
  • Modification: Modified from NDVI for better vegetation monitoring.
  • Range: 0 to 1; closer to 1 indicates healthy vegetation, closer to 0 indicates unhealthy.
  • Applications: Effective in detecting vegetation changes and analysing canopy biophysical characteristics.
  • Challenges: Bright features (e.g., clouds) and dark features (e.g., water) can cause anomalies in EVI images.

Associated Article:

https://universalinstitutions.com/sc-orders-halt-to-illegal-mining-in-aravali-range/