How Haryana Plans to Restore 25,000 Hectares of Degraded Aravalli Land

On June 5, teams across Haryana’s Aravalli districts will begin a large-scale restoration effort. The day marks the official launch of the Aravalli Green Wall project by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in South Delhi. The aim is to build a continuous forest line from Porbandar in Gujarat to Rajghat in Delhi. Stretching across the length of the Aravalli hills, the project takes inspiration from Africa’s Great Green Wall initiative.

In Haryana, the first phase focuses on reviving 24,990 hectares of degraded forest land. This work will take place over three years in five districts: Gurgaon, Faridabad, Nuh, Rewari, and Mahendergarh. Charkhi Dadri, although part of the Aravalli range, has not been included as its forest cover remains largely intact. Using GIS mapping, forest officials identified a total of 33,706 hectares of recorded forest area in these five districts. Of this, 24,990 hectares are degraded.

The damaged areas fall into three categories: more than half have low tree cover, around 25% have no forest cover at all, and the remaining 15% are scrublands. Encouragingly, 76% of this land has deep soil, which supports long-term restoration. The work will begin with soil and water conservation. After that, each site will see the planting of 15 to 20 native species, based on the local soil and conditions.

District-wise targets are clearly set. Nuh will see the highest restoration with 9,839 hectares. Gurgaon follows with 6,063.7 hectares, then Faridabad with 3,852.7, Rewari with 3,087.9, and Mahendergarh with 2,146.2 hectares. The plan includes building check dams, percolation ponds, and restoring grasslands. Local panchayats, NGOs, and community groups will join the efforts. Forest officers will lead and monitor the work.

What is Green Wall project?

• The project aims to stop desertification and improve forest cover.

• It spans across four states—Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi.

• It is inspired by Africa's Great Green Wall, which restored forests across 8,000 kilometers.

• The Indian version aims to revive 1.1 million hectares of Aravalli land by 2027.

The Aravalli Green Wall project was first announced in 2023. It targets the revival of 1.1 million hectares by 2027. The Aravalli range plays a key role in blocking desert expansion and helping groundwater recharge. Almost 40% of this ancient range lies in Haryana, making the state’s participation crucial.

The project is spread across 29 districts in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi. Chief Ministers from all four states will take part in the launch events. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta will be with the Prime Minister in South Delhi. Haryana’s Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini will join from Dadri. Gujarat and Rajasthan Chief Ministers will attend from Kheda and Ramgarh respectively.

Apart from tree planting, one thousand nurseries will support the effort. Satellite mapping and remote sensing will track the progress. Funds will come from existing schemes like MNREGA, CAMPA, and the Green India Mission. The action plan also includes involving schools, eco-clubs, and the Eco-Task Force. Research institutions like BSI and ZSI will be part of ongoing monitoring and taxonomy work.

What will be done on ground?

The Aravallis are home to 22 wildlife sanctuaries and four tiger reserves—Ranthambore, Sariska, Ramgarh-Vishdhari, and Mukunda Hills. The region also includes Keoladeo National Park and nearly 50 historic forts. Rivers like the Chambal and Luni begin in these hills. The terrain ranges from rolling ridges to steep hillocks, with the highest peak being Guru Shikhar in Mount Abu at 1,732 metres.

Activists have called for legal protection of the Aravallis. Environmentalist Vivek Kamboj pointed out that without strong legal safeguards, illegal mining and tree felling could continue to damage the range. He stressed the need for long-term protection through legal recognition.

This year’s campaign will also revive “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam.” Launched earlier, it asks people to plant a tree in their mother’s name. After planting 80 crore saplings last year, the campaign returns with a goal to link personal emotion with ecological responsibility.

The Green Wall’s upcoming phase expands on the earlier 2023 effort, which had focused on a 5-kilometre buffer zone around the hills. This time, it brings in broader goals, such as eco-tourism, removal of invasive species, and connecting restored zones to Amrit Sarovars and other water bodies.

The plan shows a structured, scientific, and community-based path toward saving the Aravallis. By combining conservation, water management, public participation, and legal safeguards, the project aims to bring new life to one of India’s oldest and most fragile landscapes.

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