Mangarbani
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Mangarbani blocks desert storms
The Times of India, Dec 13 2015
BagishJha
Mangarbani blocks desert storms from all of NCR
The damage to the Aravalis' fragile ecosystem can wreak havoc on not only Gurgaon but the whole of NCR as `desert storms' can come back to haunt Delhi apart from reviving the threat of desertification of northern and central India, according to environmentalists. They say the noise about controlling vehicular movement to contain SPM levels is drowning out the importance of shrubs, herbs and grasses in absorbing dust particles. Amid the country-wide concern about increasing pollution, especially the SPM level in the air, the Haryana government has granted permission for construction in natural conservation zones of the Aravalis without considering its environmental impact. Vijay Dasmana, environmentalist and biodiversity expert, said the Aravalis and Mangar act as a barrier for desertification in northern and central India, including Delhi.“IfMangar and the Aravalis are gone, then a `desert storm' is bound to hit NCR,“ said Dasmana, adding that trees, shrubs, herbs and grasses of Mangar and Aravalis absorb dust particles, hold moisture and bring rain. Desertification of the area will begin if this greenery is removed. Highlighting the importance of Mangar and Aravalis for checking pollution, Dasmana said despite numerous encroachments and constant attempts to destroy forest cover ¬Mangar and Aravalis act as a big carbon shrink [sink]. “They reduce temperature, absorb dust and purify air,“Dasmana said. JitendraBhadana of Save Aravali said it was the only green zone in NCR. “During 1940s and 1950s, Delhi used to witness desert storms and to contain that PM Jawaharlal Nehru was involved in dropping a large number of Keekar seeds in the region from a helicopter.
