Aravalli Is Lifeline, Not Just Stones— Laxmi Narayan Pandya,

Udaipur, Expressing serious concern over the future of the Aravalli mountain range, Laxmi Narayan Pandya, former TAC member (Government of Rajasthan), stated that the Aravalli is the lifeline of southern Rajasthan and not merely a collection of stones. He emphasized that permitting its destruction would mean the end of this vital lifeline.

Pandya said that for centuries, the identity of southern Rajasthan has been intrinsically linked with the Aravalli hills. The Aravalli mountain range acts as a protective shield for nearly 15 districts of southern Rajasthan, playing a crucial role in environmental conservation and safeguarding the region from natural disasters. These hills help regulate droughts, heat waves, excessive rainfall, scanty rainfall, and soil erosion. If the Aravalli ranges are destroyed, it could trigger severe environmental changes across the region.

He strongly opposed the newly proposed definition that categorizes only hills 100 meters or higher as part of the Aravalli range, calling it completely flawed. Pandya warned that this definition poses a serious threat to human life and environmental protection. If implemented, it would provide open protection to environmentally damaging industries, mining activities, illegal constructions, and mafias involved in deforestation and stone quarrying.

According to him, such a definition would push more than 90 percent of the existing Aravalli hills outside the protection framework, endangering forests, water resources, agricultural land, wildlife, and biodiversity. Districts including Udaipur, Salumber, Dungarpur, Banswara, Pratapgarh, Sirohi, Rajsamand, Pali, and others would face irreversible environmental destruction, making conservation efforts nearly impossible. The resulting ecological imbalance would severely affect both human and wildlife populations, disrupting the entire ecosystem with consequences that society would inevitably have to bear.

Laxmi Narayan Pandya appealed to the Government of India to reconsider the decision taken in public interest, immediately withdraw the 100-meter Aravalli definition, and retain the earlier definition to ensure public safety and ecological balance while respecting the sentiments of the people of Rajasthan. He also urged all political representatives to rise above party politics and collectively raise their voices to protect the Aravalli range for future generations.