Desert Winds Advance: Illegal Mining Amplifies Sand Dunes, Ignites Climate Change Alarms

The encroachment of desert winds towards Haryana is intensifying, contributing to the expansion of sand dunes across multiple villages. Over 16 villages in Gurugram, Faridabad, and Nuh are experiencing the impact of desert dust, underscoring the looming threat of climate change.

Despite a Supreme Court ban, illegal mining persists at 11 locations in Gurugram and Nuh within the Aravalli range. Disturbing images, along with GPS locations, reveal the ongoing mining activities. This revelation comes to light as Aravali winds carry sandy gusts from Rajasthan, causing an increase in sand dunes in villages bordering Haryana, including Harchandpur, Tikli, Jalalpur, Kota Khandelwal, and others.

An essential line of the Aravalli range, stretching from Sohna to Firozpur Jhirka, traditionally acts as a barrier against Rajasthan's sandy winds. However, the surge in dunes indicates a breakdown in this natural defence. The Aravali Bachao Nagrik Abhiyan has reported illegal mining at these locations to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) between 2022 and October 2023, with a hearing scheduled in the Supreme Court on January 9.

Renowned Indian scientist Dr Bilal Habib's report from 2017-18 highlights extensive mining activities in the Aravalli Wildlife Institute, indicating the highest levels globally. The erosion of the Aravalli hills poses a severe ecological threat, emphasizing the need for urgent action.
LK Sharma, a member of the Commission on Ecosystem Management and the World Commission on Protected Areas, stresses the importance of addressing the issue. Research in 2017 warned of Aravalli hills' potential extinction and the encroaching desert peril towards Delhi, Haryana, and NCR. He urges the governments of Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi to collaborate and prioritize the preservation of the Aravalli range.

Amidst these concerns, the Haryana State Enforcement Bureau conducted targeted raids across 11 districts to curb illegal mining activities. The raids, involving 51 teams and 480 police personnel, resulted in the confiscation of 52 vehicles, including dumpers, JCBs, and tractor-trailers used for illegal mining.