NEW DELHI: Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh on Thursday accused the Modi government of launching a determined assault on ecological balance by weakening environmental protection laws and loosening pollution norms.
He claimed that over 90% of the Aravallis will not be protected under the redefinition of the hills and will open them up for mining and other activities.
In a post on X, Jairam Ramesh said there is no connection between Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “global talk and local walk” when it comes to environmental concerns.
The Modi Sarkar’s redefinition of the Aravallis, that goes against all expert opinion, is dangerous and disastrous.
According to the Forest Survey of India’s data that is authoritative, only 8.7% of the Aravalli hills that are higher than 20 meters exceed 100 metres. If we take all Aravalli hills identified by FSI, not even 1% exceeds 100 meters. The FSI believes, and rightly so, that height limits are dubious and ALL of the Aravallis irrespective of height should be protected.
In terms of area, this means that well over 90% of the Aravallis will NOT be protected by the new redefinition and could well get opened up for mining, real estate, and other activities that will further damage an already ravaged ecosystem.
That is the plain and simple truth that cannot be covered up. This is yet another example of the Modi Sarkar’s determined assault on ecological balance that includes loosening of pollution standards, weakening of environment and forest laws, emasculation of the National Green Tribunal, and other institutions of environmental governance. There is simple no connection between the PM’s global talk and his local walk when it comes to environmental concerns, Jairam said.
