Haryana emphasises need to restore Aravallis

Despite their geological significance, the Aravallis face severe degradation due to rampant mining, climate change, urban expansion, and deforestation

Published on: Feb 7, 2025, 05:54:17 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

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A panel discussion underway as part of the summit. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)

Haryana’s principal chief conservator of forests Dr Vivek Saxena on Thursday emphasised the urgency of restoring the Aravallis, and called for collaborative efforts to rehabilitate the ecosystem.

Addressing the gathering at the opening of the three-day of the Aravalli Green Wall Partnership Summit in Gurugram, he said: “The northwestern advancement of the Thar Desert poses a severe threat to both biodiversity and the communities that depend on these ecosystems. Collaborative efforts are necessary to rehabilitate the fundamental ecosystem of this region. A shared vision and coordinated initiatives will help establish the Aravalli Green Wall landscape.”

The event, organised by the Haryana State Biodiversity Board and The Nature Conservancy India Solutions (NCIS), is aimed at bringing together key stakeholders from government agencies, conservation groups and civil society organisations to develop a comprehensive strategy and intervention plan to enhance the ecological health and water security of the Aravallis. Despite their geological significance, the Aravallis face severe degradation due to rampant mining, climate change, urban expansion, and deforestation. Large portions of the range remain outside the purview of protected area networks, making conservation efforts even more critical.

Dr Anjali Acharya, managing director, The Nature Conservancy India Solutions (NCIS), highlighted the need for immediate conservation measures. “The Aravallis, as the world’s oldest mountain range and a natural heritage site, require urgent attention to preserve their ecological and biodiversity integrity. This initiative brings together conservation and climate action efforts, fostering commitment toward restoring the Aravalli landscape. Partnerships will play a crucial role in re-establishing the Aravalli Green Wall and ensuring a sustainable future for the region.”

The summit comes against the backdrop of the announcement of the Aravalli Green Wall Landscape (AGWL) Project in 2023 by the Union minister of environment, forests, and climate change Bhupender Yadav. The ambitious project spans four states—Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi—and aims to increase green cover, conserve biodiversity, restore ecological balance, and rejuvenate water bodies in the region. The initiative relies on ecosystem-based conservation and nature-based solutions (NBS) to tackle environmental challenges, such as desertification and land degradation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More

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