In view of recent reports, more than 25℅ of the Aravalli hill ranges have been under Aravalli degradation due to illegal mining in Aravalli hills. This has not only caused a lot of biological diversity loss but has also resulted in the destruction of the groundwater flow. While few water bodies such as the famous Badkhal lake have dried up due to illegal mining in Aravalli hills, few new water bodies have come up creating major ecological problems. This article will talk in-depth about the story of Aravalli degradation in view of the illegal mining in the Aravalli hills. But, first, this article will take you to the land of Rajasthan and will discuss the formation of Aravalli range and the features of Aravalli hills. Finally, the article will end with some unknown facts about Aravalli hills.
Where Is Aravalli Range Located?
Located in the northwestern part of India, stretching along Rajasthan to Delhi through Haryana, the formation of Aravalli range was an Orogenic process, formed by folding of the moving convergent plate boundaries. The Aravalli, one of the oldest mountain ranges, was formed about 1.8 billion years ago during the era of the Tethys!
All About Aravalli Range – Features Of Aravalli Hills
As said before, the formation of Aravalli range can be traced back to the Proterozoic era, making the Aravalli one of the oldest mountain systems on earth. In the words of geologists, the Aravalli range is 350 million years old, which is way older than the Great Himalayas.
The Aravalli range is located in the northwestern part of India, stretching from Gujarat to Delhi through Rajasthan and Haryana. The oldest mountain range runs approximately 670 km in distance through the state of Rajasthan. The Aravalli range is rich in minerals and natural resources making it an important natural resource.
Formation Of Aravalli Range
The formation of Aravalli range took place during the Proterozoic era when the mighty Tethys was present in the land of earth. Formed due to the Orogenic process, by the folding of the moving convergent plate boundaries, about billions of years ago.
The formation of Aravalli range happened due to the pushing of the tectonic plates followed by magma pouring which ultimately gave rise to the oldest mountain systems on earth! The important features of Aravalli Hills make it an important name in the dictionary of geologists.
Rich in essential minerals such as Copper, the oldest mountain range gave rise to many water bodies such as Bansa, Luni, etc. The highest peak of the Aravalli Range is the Guru Shikhar, with an average height of 5650 ft. Over the years, the range has worn down and declined due to continuous erosion and man-made disturbances such as illegal mining in Aravalli hills.
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Illegal Mining In Aravalli Hills – The Aravalli Degradation
In recent years, there have been court orders against the illegal mining in Aravalli hills which were a regular thing in the region. Though the oldest mountain range in the world houses a lot of biological diversity, the Aravalli degradation due to illegal mining in the hills has caused havoc in the already disturbed region. Thus, the Rajasthan Government has permitted mining in the region under legal safeguards, but the Haryana Government has completely banned illegal mining in Aravalli hills on account of the increasing havoc and destruction posed by mining in these regions.
Though the Haryana government has given strict orders against mining in the Aravalli range, reports say that a large number of cases have been filed in recent years on illegal mining in Aravalli hills. In the current financial year of 2022, the Haryana government reported that about 23 cases have been filed against mining which is further contributing its fair share to the Aravalli degradation.
In the words of a senior official from Gurugram, several mining mafias have been involved in illegal mining in the region for decades. He also added that since the financial year 2019, more than about 1460 files have been registered in the Palwal, Faridabad, Gurugram, and Nuh districts of the region.
But, the real problem is still not solved. Though illegal mining in Aravalli hills is banned by the Haryana Court, it is continued, even on a much higher scale than before! In the words of Ambuj Kishore, program director at the Association for Rural Advancement through Voluntary Action and Local Involvement, “Just recently we witnessed a hillock in Mokhampura village on National Highway 8, some 70 km from Jaipur. Half of it is eroded and it will be completely lost in another year.”
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Facts About Aravalli Hills
1. One of the unknown facts about Aravalli hills is that The Aravalli range got its name from two Sanskrit words, Ara and Valli, meaning the line of peaks.
2. The highest peak of the Aravalli range is Guru Shikhar in Mount Abu with an average height of 5650 feet.
3. The Aravalli range is rich in minerals such as marble, rock phosphate, and lead-zinc-silver mineral deposits which have made Rajasthan one of the states in India with a large number of marble companies.
4. Did you know that apart from serving as a storehouse for essential minerals, the Aravalli range also serves to protect the Udaipur region from the Thar Deserts.
5. The Aravalli range is known in different regions with different names. While the people of Udaipur call it ‘Jagga Pahariyan’, the people of the Alwar region know it by the Hills of Harshnath.
6. One of the important facts about Aravalli hills is that the oldest mountain range on the earth has given rise to a large number of water bodies among which Luni, Sakhi, etc. are the major rivers.
Queries
1. How old are Aravalli hills?
According to geological data, the formation of Aravalli range dates back to 1.8 billion years ago during the Proterozoic era. Thus, the Aravalli hills are about 350 million years old and are one of the oldest mountain systems in the world.
2. What is the height of the Aravalli hills?
The elevation of the Aravalli hills is 1722 meters or 5650 feet. The highest peak is the Guru Shikhar in Mount Abu in Rajasthan.
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3. Which activities are harmful to Aravalli hills?
Due to illegal mining in Aravalli hills, the region has already suffered large-scale destruction such as loss of biodiversity and destruction in the water flow. Thus, large-scale construction, further mining, large-scale deforestation, and illegal dumping of waste are harmful to the Aravalli hills as they may further deplete the earth’s important natural resource.
4. What are the three most important features of Aravalli hills?
- The Aravalli range lies in the northwestern part of India, stretching through Gujarat and Haryana through Rajasthan.
- The Aravalli hills are formed by the Orogenic process of folding tectonic plates and are thus highly eroded and broken.
- They are located on the Northwestern border of the Peninsular plateau and lie in the Northward direction of the Satpura ranges.
5. Which minerals are found in Aravalli hills?
The Aravalli range has a rich deposit of copper, silica, phosphate, quartz, and other important stones along with marbles and leads zinc silver mineral deposits.
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