Sachin Pilot On Aravalli: Pilot Slams Government- Not One, But Four Engines Are Engaged to Demolish Aravalli; Few Will Dig Stones...

The NSUI organized a massive protest in Jaipur, the capital, to protect the Aravalli mountain range, considered the lifeline of Rajasthan, from mining mafias. This foot march, which proceeded from Jalupura to the Collectorate, saw thousands of students and workers participate alongside Congress National General Secretary Sachin Pilot and NSUI State President Vinod Jakhar. The protest highlighted serious concerns regarding the state government's policies, particularly concerning the conservation of the ancient Aravalli hills.

Aravalli: Rajasthan's Lifeline Under Grave Threat

The Aravalli mountain range is more than just a series of hills for Rajasthan; it's the bedrock of its ecology, water security, and climatic balance, while this thousands-of-years-old range plays a crucial role in preventing desertification in the state and maintaining groundwater levels, acting as a natural barrier and a vital water catchment area. However, Sachin Pilot, in his address, unequivocally stated that the government's current policies aren't only failing to protect this invaluable heritage but are actively pushing it towards peril, while he alleged that instead of taking concrete steps for Aravalli's preservation, the government is indirectly encouraging mining mafias, leading to irreversible damage to its natural structure and ecological integrity.

Government Accused of Complicity in Illegal Mining

Addressing the workers at the Collectorate, Sachin Pilot launched a scathing attack on the state government's mining policies. He questioned why illegal mining continues unabated in hundreds of locations across the Aravalli range even today. Pilot directly asked the government to disclose under whose pressure this mining is being conducted and who is benefiting from it. He accused the authorities of cleverly manipulating the issue in court, suggesting that merely imposing a ban is insufficient. True conservation, he emphasized, requires active tree planting and a complete halt to illegal mining. This calls for effective action on the ground, far beyond mere bureaucratic procedures or superficial legal pronouncements.

Call for Central Government to Intervene in Supreme Court

Pilot exposed what he termed the government's 'cleverness' by expressing grave concerns over the altered definition of Aravalli, while he revealed that the definition of Aravalli is being changed based on a report by a foreign woman (Murphy), where the government's argument is that only hills taller than 100 meters qualify as Aravalli. Pilot refuted this argument with stark statistics, clarifying that only 1,048 hills are above 100 meters, whereas a staggering 118,000 mountains and hills are below this height. If this new definition is accepted, he warned, millions of smaller hills would be easily dug up and cleared by mining mafias, leaving a. Vast portion of the Aravalli range legally unprotected and causing immense environmental devastation, including loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, and disruption of water cycles.

Sachin Pilot appealed to the central government to intervene in this critical matter, while he urged them to file a new application in the Supreme Court to ensure that the definition of Aravalli is revised to provide comprehensive protection. Pilot stressed that mining mafias are poised to excavate the Aravalli mountains, and those driven solely by profit must be stopped immediately. He issued a stern warning that while a few individuals might earn a meager 2,500 rupees or a few lakh rupees by digging stones, millions of people would suffer the consequences, while this loss, he highlighted, would be irreparable, raising the profound question of what legacy we're leaving for future generations if such destruction is allowed to continue unchecked.

Government Warned: Public Pressure Will Prevail

Encouraging the activists, Pilot stated that the government intends to suppress them by presenting false figures, but they wouldn't yield, while he made it clear that public pressure is so potent that governments are eventually compelled to bow before it. This movement, he asserted, isn't merely for the conservation of Aravalli but also to amplify the voice of the people and make the government accountable for its responsibilities, while he warned that if the government fails to address this grave issue and halt illegal mining, the public movement will intensify, and the government will face severe repercussions. This is a decisive battle for the future of Aravalli and the environment of Rajasthan, where the power of the people will ultimately determine the outcome.