ARAVALLI HILLS MINING SCAM

Aravalli range means line of peaks are the most ancient mountain chain of India and also one of the oldest geographical sites of the world. It runs in western India extending for about 800 kms in the states of Gujrat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi. The northern end extend upto Haryana in the form of rocky and isolated hills and ends at Delhi. The Delhi Ridge is the last stop of the Aravalli Range which finally ends at Central Delhi at Raisina hills. Palanpur near Ahmedabad, Gujrat is the southernmost end of the range. The city of Udaipur in Rajasthan lies on the south-western end of the range. Being rich in various natural mineral resources like granite and marbel Aravalli range is been witnessing illegal mining since years. This has exploited and eroded the parts of the range in Rajasthan and Haryana. A huge number of stone crusher operations and deforestation activities are degrading the environment thoroughly. These people dont care about the environmental damage at all. Every citizen has an equal share on these ranges but only without degrading the environment. These mining operations have resulted in disturbance of the surface land, alteration of drainage pattern along with the problems of air pollution, noise pollution, water pollution and soil polltution. EFFECTS:i.) The mining operations are devastating in nature. The common people are deprived of their right of getting equal share of the natural resources available. Blasting the rocks on the hills, heavy vehicles moving here and there, heavy operations and movements of mining machines and equipements tends to cause considerable pollution to the environment in the form of noise pollution. The villages nearby are heavily polluted by dust and air pollution. Mined pits and big wholes and uncared dumps and leftovers are some consequences of mining. There are chances that people might fall in them. ii.) Due to the continuous mining in the areas of Rajasthan and Haryana, the level of ground water in the wells have been decreased. During the whole mining process, the mined water is not stored in pits rather its been discharged into the surrounding nallas for example, the water mined in Anangpur mines is being discharged into the Bhuria Nala. All this leads to the decrease in the ground water level.the discharge level is also declining considerably. But, since when the mining has been stopped in Anangpur and Mangar, a noticeable increase is seen in the water level of the wells over there. In spite of less monsoon and continuous withdrawl of water from the wells, a constant increase in the wells have been noticed within the few months after banning the minings there. iii.) The continuous extraction of marble from the hills in Rajasthan pose a great threat to the whiole region. The Aravalli hills are declining in number. And in some places wind isolated hills. These hills acts as a natural barrier to stop the the great Thar Dessert from spreading in the northern region, thus protecting the whole northern Indian society.

iv.) The wild animals are now hardly seen in the area. Many are being killed by the mining mafias and are under no records. People and the government is just so busy in making money.The districts like Manesar in Haryana were covered by huge hills once and now its just a new commercial town in Haryana aftr Gurgaon. On May,2012, 10 workers got burried while working and the mine collapsed. No body was arrested and accused for this. Common people are amongst the ones who are suffering the most. All this is building the confidence of these mining mafias and many other people with powers involved in this. JUDICIAL VERDICTS:i.) On May 6,2002, mining was banned by the Apex Court in the Arvalli range after founding that illegal mining going on in the area is harming the environment of the surrounding and devastating the ecological sites. Same decision was followed by the court when Delhi Ridge Management Board raised a voice to stop mining activities and the pumping of ground water within the 5 kms area from Delhi- Haryana border. ii.) In 1996, the Supreme court banned all the mining operations going on within the 2 kms of the Badkal and Surajkund tourists resorts. On October 20,2002, the Supreme court placed a total ban on the mining activities in the Aravalli hills after observing that the whole area and the range came under the forest land. iii.) But nothing great happened. Infact when th S.P. of Bharatpur, Rajasthan, Mr Vikas Kumar, challenged these mafias was transferred within the two months of the case. Three Senior forests officers in Alwar Districts found themselves transferred for raising their voice against the mafias. CONCLUSIONS:Every citizen has an equal right on the natural resources like water, air, soil, etc. But many-a-times we have seen a group of people with or without power, destroying these resources in the name of utilizing them and debarding the rights of other people. The resources should be utilized in such a way that they do not harm the environment. Right to live is our fundamental right according to article 21, which involves living a pollution-free life. Also, people are forced to live in a polluted environment in which their lives in under threat. SUGGESTIONS:No mining activity and pumping out of water should be carried out in the area upto 5 kms of Delhi- Haryana border in the Haryana side of the ridge and in the Arvali hills too. A responsible authority should be constituted to keep an eye and decide whether to give or not to give the mining permission in the area. Mining activities should only be carried out if they are not degrading the environmentand causing minimal adverse effects. Wildlife Sanctuaries should be made to conserve the species which are at the verge of extinction due to the mining process.