Project Aravali Forest Safari: The Cost of Greening Gurugram

Gurugram, a busy city next to Delhi noted for its tall skyscrapers, is about to support a novel effort that aims to bring the beauty of nature closer to its citizens. The Gurugram Aravali forest has long been praised as a green haven in the middle of the city’s concrete surroundings. But a recent plan to build a Jungle Safari Park there has sparked a contentious argument between locals, environmentalists, and government officials.

Manohar Lal Khattar, the chief minister of Haryana, revealed an ambitious proposal in 2022 to build a massive 10,000-acre safari park in the state’s Aravali area. The project’s goal is to provide local youngsters work possibilities, especially in the 10 nearby communities. The program, according to CM Khattar, aims to aid the local populations by concentrating on villages like Bhondsi, Ghamroj, Alipur, Tikli, Aklimpur, Naurangpur, Bar Gujjar in Gurugram and Kota Khandewla, Gangani, Mohamadpur Ahir, Kharak, Jalalpur, Bhango, and Chalka in Nuh.

According to officials, the Safari Park project would provide a variety of work possibilities, including those in job construction, security, supervision, and more. A committee led by the extra director general of forests from the environment ministry has been established by the federal government to oversee the project’s seamless execution.

Ten different zones make up the planned jungle safari park concept, each of which offers a distinctive experience. In addition to other fascinating features, these zones will have a sizable herbarium, a bird park, four enclosures for big cats, a large area for herbivores, a section specifically for exotic animals and birds, an immersive underwater world, charming nature trails, visitor areas, tourism zones, and charming botanical gardens.

The Haryana government’s homestay program is open to local people, according to Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Homeowners will be able to rent out portions of their houses or their full residences to tourists and visitors at affordable prices thanks to this program. Additionally, he said that the safari park would play a crucial part in safeguarding and conserving the region’s unique biodiversity. The initiative intends to protect the region’s 180 bird species, 15 mammal species, 29 aquatic and reptile species, and 57 butterfly species.

The Aravali Forest Safari Project provides a chance for wildlife and environment lovers to engage with the natural world while simultaneously embracing the area’s further development.

This park will be a fantastic chance for my husband and I to make additional money, which will enable us to send our daughter to a decent private school, says Mina, a housekeeper. We want to open a snack stand and provide locally manufactured ornaments for sale to park visitors.

Kamlesh, a day laborer, too has a similar viewpoint. “Many of us will have employment chances thanks to this park. Our lives have already been touched by the epidemic, but this park offers us some hope.

Many Gurugram locals believe that this project would enable tourists to carefully see the area’s unique flora and wildlife. According to them, the initiative intends to further conservation efforts and increase knowledge of the area’s sensitive ecosystems.

“Having a safari park in a city where pollution is a major problem is pleasant. It will be the perfect weekend retreat for me, providing a serene break from my busy business life. The best way to unwind, according to Deloitte employee Ayush, is to breathe fresh air and spend time in nature.

The community’s views, however, are as varied as the forest itself.

Assisted Forestry?
While some neighborhood residents have warmly embraced the idea, there are others who are opposed to it. The delicate environment of the Aravali Forest might suffer irreparable harm, according to the project’s detractors. They contend that removing huge tracts of forest and adding man-made buildings might disturb the ecosystem’s natural environment, endangering its biodiversity and delicate balance.

Additionally, an increase in visitors might upset the forest’s delicate balance, resulting in ecological degradation and more confrontations between animals and people.

“The projected safari park will result in habitat damage and deforestation. The preservation of this unique ecology must take precedence above commercial interests, says Nidhi Kankan, a staff member of the NGO I Am Gurugram.

Aravalli Bachao Andolan volunteer Manisa Dubey adds to this by stating that “the creation of the planned safari park would not only further rob numerous animals of their natural habitats, but it will also cage them inside an artificial setting. It is crucial to recognize that humans do not have the right to keep animals in captivity and that they have the right to live their own lives.

Issue with Aravali Safari Park Reaches Courts
The Aravali Safari project dispute has also made it to the highest court. Some Gurugram residents have petitioned the Supreme Court to prohibit the project, with the help of environmental groups. They contend that the idea is against forest rules and constitutes a serious environmental risk.

The Aravali range, with its lush green trees, has allegedly acted as an essential natural barrier for the area, successfully preventing desertification, according to petitioners. The Indus Basin in the northwest and the Ganga Basin in the east are separated by this range, which spans a large portion of North India. The North Indian plains’ surrounding regions would suffer considerable environmental destruction if its natural terrain is altered in any way. Eastern Rajasthan, Haryana, the Malwa area, western Uttar Pradesh, and even Delhi would be affected in the long run.

The development locations have been selected for their undulating terrain, varied soil depths, and low moisture retention, leaving them vulnerable to water stress. The petitioners contend that the severe water issue makes the substantial real estate development for tourism that has been envisioned in these settings unsustainable.

The petitioners further emphasize that Delhi, Gurugram, and Faridabad are the three most urbanized districts out of the 23 where the Aravali range is located. They claim that since 1992, the vegetation cover in these regions has already significantly decreased, with fractional losses of 29%, 17%, and 15%, respectively.

The groundwater levels in the Gurugram and Nuh areas have reportedly been labeled as “overexploited” by the Central Ground Water Board, according to opponents of the Safari Park project. Experts and activists stressed in their position paper sent to the ministry that the groundwater table in Nuh district is already below 1,000 feet in several places, which has caused tube wells, borewells, and ponds to run dry. Due to water constraint, the Gurugram district also has a large number of “red zone” locations.

The groundwater level in these areas is very susceptible to disturbances or changes in the associated aquifers, which may have a substantial effect. According to a number of rulings issued by the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the planned site for the Aravali Safari Park project is classified as a “forest.” According to the publication, it is protected by the Forest Conservation Act, which forbids operations like tree cutting, clearing land, and real estate construction on this site.

Animals are also susceptible to illness risks brought on by people. The petitioners gave examples of times when zoo visitors have spread illnesses that have affected the health of animals. They emphasized the instance of the Bronx Zoo in New York’s four tigers and three lions that tested positive with SARS-CoV-2. The incidence and spread of illnesses among zoo animals continue to be a major issue, according to the petitioners, in spite of the Central Zoo Authority’s (CZA) rigorous health and cleanliness rules. Furthermore, the natural benefits and feeling of remoteness that the Aravali Forest offers cannot be duplicated in man-made environments.

Numerous animal species have already suffered great damage from human activity, largely due to habitat destruction and environmental changes. Due to the loss of their habitats, animals are now traveling into surrounding village areas, which causes regrettable events where they are often murdered in the guise of safeguarding human safety. This project ought to be put on hold, said Nimika, a local of Gurugram.

The Haryana government argues that petitioners’ criticisms of the project are rash and erroneous in response to the petitioners’ citation of certain sections. They emphasized the potential tourist and economic benefits that the safari park may have for the area.
The Supreme Court has recognized and taken note of the problem, and they have tasked a team of specialists to assess any potential environmental impacts of the project. The judges stressed the necessity for sustainable initiatives to protect the Aravali Forest and the need of striking a balance between development and conservation.

As Gurugram resident Niharika Das puts it, “Humans are not developing in our quest of growth; rather, we are courting our own agony and drawing closer to our own doom. Floods, intense heatwaves, droughts, and landslides are only a few examples of nature’s retaliation. Nature will undoubtedly exact its ultimate retribution at some point, not just for the harm we do to the environment but also for the suffering we cause to animals’ lives. It is crucial that we acknowledge this and halt the devastation.

Although the Aravali Forest Safari Project is taking form, Gurugram’s residents are at a crossroads between development and preservation. The initiative has undeniable good potential for promoting environmental consciousness, enhancing the local economy, and giving city inhabitants access to nature. At the same time, it is impossible to overlook the damage and suffering it will cause. Concerns of habitat protection, sustainable methods, and community engagement must be carefully taken into account.

In the end, the Aravali Forest Safari Project can only become a paradigm for balancing nature and tourism, bearing in mind the coexistence of both the people and the animals of Gurugram, via responsible and participatory decision-making.