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Haryana Aravali Safari Park Project
Context:
The Aravali Safari Park Project is an ambitious initiative by the Haryana government to develop what is envisioned to be the world’s largest safari park.
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- Spread across 3,858 hectares in the Aravali mountain range, the project is divided between Gurugram and Nuh districts.
- The park aims to attract tourists with a variety of attractions, including animal enclosures, guest houses, hotels, restaurants, botanical gardens, aquariums, cable cars, and more.
Background
- Aravalli Safari Park Project: Proposed by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in April 2022.
- Planned in Gurugram and Nuh districts, covering 10,000 acres.
- Opposed by the Aravalli Bachao Citizens Movement, a network of environmentalists and activists.
Key Features of the Project
- Animal Enclosures and Habitats: The park will house a diverse range of animals in specially designed-enclosures.
- Visitor Amenities: The project includes guest houses, hotels, restaurants, auditoriums, an animal hospital, children’s parks, botanical gardens, aquariums, cable cars, a tunnel walk with exhibits, an open-air theatre, and eateries.
- Water Management: The park plans to source water for wildlife from canal supplies and use treated water for plantation to avoid depleting the region’s groundwater.
Ecological Importance of the Aravali Hills
- Oldest fold mountain range in the world, extending 690 km from Gujarat to Delhi.
- Plays a crucial role in preventing desertification by stopping the Thar Desert from spreading into eastern Rajasthan.
- Functions as a natural aquifer, helping recharge groundwater in an already water-scarce region.
- Home to a diverse range of wildlife and plant species.
Impact on Groundwater Reserves
- The increased footfall, vehicular traffic, and construction will disrupt underground aquifers in the Aravali hills.
- Gurugram and Nuh’s groundwater levels are categorised as “over-exploited” by the Central Ground Water Board.
- Further depletion of water resources could lead to severe water crises in the region.
Legal and Environmental Protections
- The area falls under the category of “forest” and is protected under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
- Haryana has only 3.6% forest cover, making it one of India’s least forested States.
- Experts argue that Haryana needs rewilding of natural forests, not commercial safari projects.
Existing Laws Protecting the Aravali Region
- Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), 1900: Sections 4 and 5 restrict land-breaking and deforestation for non-agricultural purposes.
- Indian Forest Act, 1927: Recently, 24,000 hectares of the Aravalis have been notified as Protected Forests.
- T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad Judgment (1996, Supreme Court): Extends legal protection to all forests based on their dictionary definition, covering unnotified forest areas.
- Regional Plan-2021 for the National Capital Region (NCR): Designates the Aravalis as a Natural Conservation Zone (NCZ). Limits construction to only 0.5% of the area.
