Save Aravali Campaign: Udaipur Lawyers Protest New Aravalli Definition, Fear Desertification of Mewar

Lawyers in Udaipur, Rajasthan, staged a massive protest under the banner of the Udaipur Bar Association on Saturday, December 20, as part of the 'Save Aravalli' campaign. The demonstration was held outside the Collectorate Office, where a large number of advocates gathered to express their strong opposition to the proposed new definition of the Aravalli mountain range. The palpable anger among the lawyers led to heavy police deployment and barricading outside the Collectorate as a precautionary measure. The protesting lawyers submitted a memorandum to the District Collector, addressed to the. President, urging the government to file a review petition in the Supreme Court.

Controversial Redefinition of Aravalli

The core of the lawyers' protest lies in their strong disagreement with the new definition of the Aravalli range, as proposed by the Supreme Court, while according to this new criterion, only hills with an elevation of 100 meters or more will be considered part of the Aravalli mountain range. The advocates argue that if this definition is implemented, a significant portion of the Aravallis, estimated. To be around 90 percent of its hills, would fall outside the purview of legal protection. This would effectively open the floodgates for unchecked mining and construction activities in these ecologically sensitive areas, leading to irreparable environmental damage.

Mewar's Looming Threat of Desertification

The lawyers of Udaipur have issued a stark warning regarding the severe consequences of the new Aravalli definition, particularly for the Mewar region, while they firmly believe that if the protection of the Aravallis is weakened and mining activities intensify, Mewar will gradually succumb to desertification. The Aravalli range serves as a vital lifeline for Rajasthan, playing a crucial role in preventing desertification and maintaining ecological balance. Its exploitation wouldn't only adversely affect the local climate but also severely impact water. Sources, groundwater recharge, and the region's rich biodiversity, threatening the very existence of its natural ecosystems.

Udaipur Bar Association Leads the Charge

The Udaipur Bar Association has taken a leading role in this movement, emphasizing the urgent need for strong policies to conserve the Aravalli range. The association has explicitly demanded that the government file a review petition in the Supreme Court to reconsider the new definition of Aravalli. The lawyers contend that this isn't merely an environmental issue but a critical matter of preserving a vital heritage for future generations, while they highlighted that the Aravallis are already under constant exploitation, and the new definition would only accelerate this destructive process, further destabilizing the region's delicate ecological balance.

Legal Experts Warn of Dire Consequences

Senior advocate Rao Ratan Singh articulated his profound concerns regarding the issue. He stated that the Honorable Supreme Court's decision to consider only hills up to 100 meters as Aravalli is a perilous proposition. According to him, if this definition becomes effective, 90 percent of the Aravalli hills would lose their legal protection, paving the way for extensive mining operations, while rao Ratan Singh further stressed that the Aravallis are already being continuously exploited, and the new definition would exacerbate this destructive process, severely disrupting the ecological balance of the region and leading to irreversible environmental degradation.

Central Government's Proposed Criteria and Its Impact

The background to this controversy is the central government's proposal for a new scientific definition of the Aravalli mountain range. Under this proposed criterion, only hills that are 100 meters or more in height would be recognized as part of the Aravallis. Opponents of this criterion argue that if it's implemented, a substantial portion of the Aravalli range, currently under protection, would be excluded from conservation efforts. This exclusion would create an open pathway for widespread mining and construction activities, posing a severe threat to the Aravalli's green cover and natural landscape. Such actions wouldn't only impact the environment but also profoundly affect the lives and livelihoods of local communities dependent on the range.

Nationwide Support for 'Save Aravalli' Campaign

The 'Save Aravalli' campaign is garnering widespread support not only in Udaipur but across Rajasthan and the entire country. Environmentalists, social activists, and concerned citizens are emphasizing that the conservation of the Aravalli mountain range is a matter of national importance. This mountain range isn't only a crucial hub of biodiversity but also plays a vital role in groundwater recharge and controlling air pollution, including for the Delhi-NCR region. So, there is an urgent need for a comprehensive and far-sighted policy to protect it, one that doesn't permit its exploitation at any cost, while the lawyers' protest is a significant part of this broader public movement, demanding immediate attention from the government on this critical environmental issue.