In a significant move highlighting the growing environmental concerns in North India, Haryana Congress President Rao Narender Singh has thrown his weight behind the ongoing 'Save Aravalli' campaign. The senior political leader has pledged his full support to the citizen-led drive aimed at protecting the ecologically fragile Aravalli mountain range from rampant deforestation and unchecked mining activities.
Political Support for an Environmental Cause
Rao Narender Singh's endorsement brings considerable political attention to the grassroots movement. He has formally announced his backing for the campaign, which has been gaining momentum among environmentalists, citizens, and civil society groups. The Congress leader's involvement underscores the issue's transition from a purely ecological concern to a matter of urgent public and political policy.
The 'Save Aravalli' drive focuses on halting the destruction of the ancient mountain range, which acts as a critical natural barrier against desertification. The Aravallis are essential for groundwater recharge and serve as a green lung for the highly polluted National Capital Region (NCR). Singh emphasized that the large-scale felling of trees and hill-cutting in the region poses a severe long-term threat to the environment and climate of the entire area.
A Call for Government Accountability
In his statements, Rao Narender Singh did not mince words in criticizing the current state government's approach. He accused the administration of failing to protect the Aravalli ecosystem, suggesting that its policies, or lack thereof, were enabling the environmental degradation. The Congress chief pointedly questioned why the government was not taking decisive action to stop the deforestation and mining that is stripping the hills of their forest cover.
His support signals a push to make the preservation of the Aravallis a key political and electoral issue in the state. By aligning with the public campaign, he aims to pressure the ruling dispensation into enacting stricter conservation measures and enforcing existing environmental laws more rigorously.
The Ecological Stakes for Haryana and Beyond
The campaign, and now the political endorsement it has received, highlights several critical facts about the Aravalli crisis:
- The mountain range is a vital natural heritage suffering from unsustainable human activities.
- Its degradation directly impacts air quality, water security, and biodiversity in Haryana and neighbouring Delhi.
- There is a perceived gap in governance and political will to address the ecological damage effectively.
Rao Narender Singh's intervention is a clear attempt to bridge this gap by mobilizing public opinion and holding the government accountable. He has framed the survival of the Aravallis as non-negotiable for the future well-being of the state's residents. The move is likely to galvanize further public participation in the 'Save Aravalli' drive, adding a potent political dimension to the environmental struggle.
The coming together of political leadership and citizen activism on this platform sets a precedent for how ecological issues can be brought to the forefront of the policy agenda. The focus now will be on whether this combined pressure can translate into concrete, on-ground action to preserve what remains of the beleaguered Aravalli range.
