Aravalli Jungle Safari Project
The Supreme Court of India has temporarily halted the Aravalli Jungle Safari Project in Haryana, citing concerns over its environmental impact on one of India’s most ecologically sensitive regions that serves as the green lung of Delhi-NCR.
It is considered one of the oldest mountain systems in the world. It spans over 800km from Gujarat to Delhi (through Rajasthan and Haryana). The highest peak in the Aravalli Range is Guru Peak (Guru Shikhar) on Mount Abu (also known as Arbuda).
The range gives rise to rivers like the Banas, Sahibi (tributaries of the Yamuna), and Luni (flowing into the Rann of Kutch).
The Aravalli Range is divided into two sections: the Sambhar-Sirohi range, which includes Guru Peak, and the Sambhar-Khetri range.
Rich in minerals and natural resources, the range acts as a barrier against the western desert.
It is densely forested in the south, and much of the range is rocky, sparsely populated, and covered with quartzite and sand.