CHANDIGARH: With the aim of encouraging an ‘ecological wall’ by restoring vast swathes of hills lost to urbanisation, mining, and other commercial activities, the Haryana Government has launched the Aravalli Green Wall Project.
This initiative, spearheaded by the Union Environment Ministry, aims to create a 1,400-km-long and five-kilometre-wide buffer zone around the Aravalli Hill Range across four states to combat land degradation and desertification.
In the first phase of the project, Haryana plans to revive 35,000 hectares of Aravalli land, including 18,000 hectares in Gurgaon. The state has modelled this project after Saudi Arabia's green initiatives, emphasising environmental sustainability.
As part of this phase, 75 water bodies will be developed in the Aravalli regions of Gurgaon, Faridabad, Nuh, Rewari, Mahendergarh, Charkhi Dadri, and Bhiwani districts.
Following a five-day visit to Saudi Arabia, Haryana Forest and Environment Minister Rao Narbir Singh highlighted Saudi Arabia's achievements in transforming arid landscapes into vibrant green belts.
"The Haryana Government, in collaboration with the stakeholder states of Rajasthan, Delhi, and Gujarat, has ambitious plans to bolster environmental sustainability by expediting the execution of the project. It would be modelled after Saudi Arabia's green initiatives," he said.
The Aravalli Green Wall Project was recently showcased at a UN climate event as part of CoP16, where India underscored the need for such innovative efforts to restore degraded forest lands.
Inspired by Africa's Great Green Wall initiative, this project aims to cover over 1.15 million hectares across Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Delhi by 2027, demonstrating a robust model of multi-state collaboration.
The project seeks to enhance afforestation with indigenous tree species, conserve biodiversity, improve soil health, and boost groundwater recharge. Additionally, efforts will focus on rejuvenating water bodies and local stream catchments to improve soil moisture, productivity, and drought resilience.
Rao added that the initiative would create green employment opportunities for local communities in the Aravalli region, fostering sustainable livelihoods and promoting environmental stewardship.
"In Haryana, the state has appointed Van Mitras to raise awareness among the younger generation about the importance of protecting nature and fostering sustainable practices. These Van Mitras are also working to strengthen local engagement with forest conservation efforts, enhancing both ecological balance and community resilience," he stated.
Meanwhile, protesters are urging the government to impose a ban on midnight premiere shows, citing environmental concerns.