Aravallis Lose 13.8% Soil Annually Amidst Urban Expansion, Study Warns

• Aravallis experienced a 13.8% increase in annual soil loss between 2017-2024, despite an increase in forest cover.
• Built-up areas in the region surged by 53%, converting rangelands and croplands into impervious surfaces.
• A study by O.P. Jindal Global University and Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur links erosion hotspots to steep slopes, susceptible soils, and mining areas.
• Researchers highlight that local afforestation efforts are insufficient to offset massive land conversion.
• Human activity and increased climatic erosivity contribute to the degradation of this ancient, mineral-rich mountain range.