New Delhi:
Rapid urbanization, mining and increased rainfall have led to an increase in soil loss of 13.8% on average across the Aravalli mountain system between 2017 and 2024, a new research paper reported.
The region’s built-up area grew by 53%, or 2,644 square kilometres, during the seven-year period – an expansion that primarily replaced agricultural land and pastures.
Researchers from the Jindal School of Environment and Sustainability (JSES) at O.P. Jindal Global University and the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur published the findings in the journal Geography on March 6. The study concluded that steep slopes, sensitive soils and mining areas are strongly associated with corrosion hotspots. The report noted that local conservation efforts, despite a significant increase in afforestation, cannot compensate for large-scale land conversion.
Long considered the only natural barrier between Delhi, its surrounding areas and the deserts of Rajasthan to the west, the Aravallis have lost 31 of their hills since 1967-68, according to a 2018 report by the Supreme Court-appointed empowered Central Committee.
The paper stated that forest cover increased by 147.31 square kilometers between 2017 and 2024. However, built-up areas increased by 2,644.32 km², while bare land decreased by 101.76 km², pastures by 1,349.3 km², and agricultural land by 1,382.5 km².
The study determined the extent of the Aravalli Mountain System (AMS) based on available literature. The area covers the older alluvium, Thar desert, Kumbhalgarh, Gogunda, Alwar, Sandmata, Garol, Ajabgarh, Mangalwar and Udaipur deserts.
The paper analyzed soil erosion across the entire AMS over a 20-year period. Using high-resolution soil erosion models, such as the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), and multi-resolution datasets such as MODIS and ESRI, the study provided the first AMS-scale assessment of the relationship between soil erosion processes and land use change.
“Average annual precipitation increased by 8.7% between 2017 (735.8 mm) and 2024 (1,026.2 mm), resulting in an increase in the rainfall erosion factor. However, when combined with slope-dominated terrain and urban development, average annual soil loss increased by 13.8%… Mining, especially lead, zinc, marble, sandstone and industrial minerals, places significant pressures on the landscape, with a high number of active activities,” said Dean. JSES Abhiroop Chowdhury: “Leases that cause geomorphological disturbance.”
The newspaper stated that the future of the Aravalli mountain range is an issue of national importance, noting that the Supreme Court deliberated on redefining the geographical scope of the mountain range, which extends to several states. The ruling, issued on 20 November 2025, was based on the classification of hills primarily by height, limiting legal protection for sites located above the 100-metre contour line. The court proposed the establishment of a council of experts to comprehensively examine the issue.
“Comprehensive scientific studies in the region are needed, in light of recent developments, to facilitate informed policy making. This research sought to address some of the policy gaps by developing a scientific understanding of the concerns (soil erosion, land degradation, forest cover) surrounding AMS conservation.”
