An assault on the Aravalli mountain range, which acts as a barrier between the desert in the west and plains in the east, is unending. Along with the existing threats (illegal mining and realty development), the Haryana government has added a new one: Tourism. Last May, the Haryana Tourism Corporation announced a design competition for a proposed Aravalli safari park. The authorities feel that the “zoo safari” will attract tourists and conserve biodiversity. And even though concrete structures and fencing
An assault on the Aravalli mountain range, which acts as a barrier between the desert in the west and plains in the east, is unending. Along with the existing threats (illegal mining and realty development), the Haryana government has added a new one: Tourism. Last May, the Haryana Tourism Corporation announced a design competition for a proposed Aravalli safari park. The authorities feel that the “zoo safari” will attract tourists and conserve biodiversity. And even though concrete structures and fencing off a 10,000-acre region will disrupt the ecosystem, it may not require a green clearance. This newspaper reported on Sunday that Haryana has not yet applied for the environment or forest clearance from the Centre, because, based on a June 8, 2022, guideline of the Union environment ministry, such a project may be categorised as a “forestry” activity, requiring no such clearance.
A zoo safari in an eco-fragile zone will not safeguard the area’s natural heritage. In a recent letter to the Haryana chief minister ML Khattar and Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav, the Aravalli Bachao Citizens Movement have said that the safari will be a death knell for native wildlife, especially big mammals. It is critical for wild animals to move from one habitat to another freely and between populations to avoid in-breeding and fights for space. Human-erected barriers can put them in danger. In a series of articles, this newspaper noted how the Aravallis were crucial to the health of the National Capital Region, and how poorly the administration was faring in protecting it. Pushing a revenue-focused plan that can disturb the flora and fauna of the eco-fragile zone, and that too in a climate-hit era, is reckless. The government must reconsider the project.
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