GURGAON: Construction of earthen dams, gabion structures, check dams, silt detention dams and crate wire structures are some of the measures that the forest and wildlife department is planning to prevent soil erosion in the Aravalis between October this year till January 2024.
Officials said on Sunday that the undulating hills are prone to water runoff and soil erosion, especially during the rainy season. The measures, they said, will also help improve groundwater levels and soil fertility.
The project will be carried out in the Aravalis of Gurgaon, Faridabad, Nuh, Palwal, Mahendergarh and Rewari, and it is likely to cost Rs 10 crore.
The plan is to develop small check dams, which are small barriers made of stones in wire mesh that are built across water channels. These structures slow down the flow of water, allowing it to seep into the soil. Gabion structures are rectangular stone baskets fabricated from hexagonal mesh of heavily galvanised steel wire. The baskets are filled with rocks and stacked atop one another to form a wall. They also have the same function as check dams.
“These measures will not only increase the green cover and biodiversity of the Aravalis by encouraging afforestation, but they’ll also help restore water bodies, improve soil fertility and climate resilience of the region,” said MS Mallik, additional principal chief conservator of forest and conservator of wildlife, south Haryana.
He said rejuvenation of water bodies and catchment of local streams will help improve soil moisture, and drought resilience.
Additionally, the department will plant more native species such as ronj (acacia leucophloea), khejri (prosopis cineraria) and amaltas that are able to better survive semi-arid conditions.
Experts said the conservation measures will be beneficial to Delhi-NCR, helping protect the region from sand and dust storms, and pollution.
“The project, if implemented, will restore degraded forest area, crop and pasture lands, sequester carbon, conserve biodiversity and build resilience to climate change,” said environmental activist Jitender Bhadana.
In Haryana, a total of 8.2% (3.6 lakh hectares) of the total geographical area has undergone desertification between 2018-19, according to the Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas, 2021.
Another report by the Central Groundwater Board also added to growing literature on the state’s groundwater crisis. According to their assessment, water levels in a majority of wells (76%) across Haryana fell in 2022 as compared to markings recorded the previous decade.
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