Several environment activists, analysts and non-government organisations in the Millennium City have come together to launch an online petition to protect the Aravallis. The petition will be signed and sent to Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.
The petition says that Aravallis provide a critical ecosystem services including groundwater recharge and wildlife habitat for Gurgaon and Faridabad. Yet, there are no protected areas in Haryana Aravallis. Even, Mangar Bani, a locally protected sacred grove, is not protected. “Forest cover in Haryana is only 3.5 per cent which is the second lowest in India. Yet, the bulk of forest cover area in the Aravallis is not considered as forest, despite orders of the Supreme Court… Common land in Aravallis, including Mangar Bani, has been privatised through a dubious process and builders have made land-banks, waiting for change of land use licences. The Supreme Court has rightly said, ‘Aravalli hills must be protected at any cost’”, says the petition.
