Sustainability Challenges and Rural Livelihoods in the Aravali Region: Assessing the Impact of Mining – Pathway to Vikshit Bharat 2047

Abstract

The Aravalli Hills, among India’s oldest geological formations, play a vital ecological role as a natural barrier against desertification and as a protector of biodiversity and groundwater recharge. Extending across nearly fifteen districts of Rajasthan, the range is central to the state’s environmental and socio-economic balance. Rajasthan, often termed a “museum of minerals,” is one of India’s most mineral-rich states, and the Aravalis serve as a significant repository of diverse mineral deposits.

Field research reveals that livelihoods in mining-affected areas of the Aravalis are increasingly under stress. Two critical concerns have emerged: a sharp decline in underground water levels and the loss of flora and fauna essential for ecological stability and animal sustenance. Mining leases within spans of 3–5 kilometers are simultaneously extracting minerals, groundwater, and biological resources, intensifying environmental degradation.

This study highlights the dual role of the Aravalis as both a mineral repository and an ecological lifeline, emphasizing the urgent need for sustainable resource management to safeguard biodiversity, water security, and rural livelihoods.