Paper: GS – III, Subject: Environment and Ecology, Topic: Biodiversity and its Conservation, Issue: Aravalli Hills Ecological Debate.
Context:
There is an ongoing debate on how to define the Aravalli hill range, its extent and scope of developmental activities to be allowed. The article discusses how to scientifically define the boundary of the Aravalli hill range and why this is important for environmental protection vs development.
Key Takeaways:
Criteria and Scope of Definition
- Previously in a 2010 study, Forest Survey of India (FSI) proposed a boundary for the Aravalli hills based on a 3-degree slope criterion, which was deemed effective in identifying the hills accurately. 62 districts qualify for inclusion in the Aravalli region (Larger area and more conservation)
- However, a 2024 Government appointed committees proposed a different criterion for Aravalli hills based on a minimum 100 m elevation (Smaller area and less conservation) and covering only 37 districts.
- This raised concerns about its environmental implications and hence Supreme Court appointed another committee recently again to define Aravallis.
Author’s suggestion:
- Process is becoming vexatious and repetitive. Since Aravallis were already scientifically mapped in 2011 by FSI, new committee should use existing data and avoid arbitrary changes.
Source: (The Indian Express)
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