Definition of mountains changing?

January 3, 2026January 5, 2026Dr V Selvarajan Leave a comment

‘What is a mountain?’ If a teacher asks a primary class student, the future students may reply, ‘Any big rocky structure above 100 meters is a mountain’

Mountains that are less than 100 meters in height may not be classified as mountains. This observation is from the Supreme Court’s judgment in the Aravalli case on 20-11-2025, not my own definition. The Aravalli range has largely vanished, leading to protests in North India, particularly in Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi. I have nothing new to say, as the subject has already been extensively presented by the media and on social media. My only question is how this 100-meter benchmark has been finalised. Why 100 meters, why not 50 or 25 meters? I do not find any logic or rhyme in such a decision. The decision is arbitrary and challengeable. However, the decision is currently on hold. We need to wait for the Supreme Court to review its decision and possibly consider new definitions in January 2026.

The Aravalli Range is one of the oldest mountain systems in the world, and it faces multiple serious environmental and governance issues, especially across Rajasthan, Haryana, and the Delhi NCR. The core issue is illegal Mining. Extensive mining of stone, marble, and quartz has been occurring. Environmentalists argue that the mining leads to hill flattening, loss of vegetation, groundwater depletion, and dust pollution. The mining mafia is not ready to yield. The second important issue is the clearing of forests for real estate, roads, resorts, and agriculture, which leads to soil erosion and loss of native species. The Wildlife corridors are slowly destroyed due to rampant urbanisation & Real Estate activities. Forest land reclassified as “non-forest” or “revenue land” to permit construction, especially in Gurugram, Faridabad, Alwar, and Delhi NCR areas. The Aravalli range serves as a natural groundwater recharge system, but its destruction has exacerbated the water crisis in Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi. The loss of the Aravallis removes a natural barrier against desert dust from the Thar and contributes to severe air pollution in Delhi–NCR. The reduced carbon sequestration has already started creating havoc. There is a threat to biodiversity, and invasive species are seen replacing the natural flora. When the court takes up the case again in January 2026, we hope that some goodwill will prevail and the Earth’s oldest mountain will be saved from destruction. In the name of development, let us not dilute definitions just to accommodate vested interests and then do the mutual mudslinging at the cost of sustainable development

Cyclone – brings strangers, raises brows!

December 6, 2025December 12, 2025Dr V Selvarajan Leave a comment

Published in South Express on 6.12.25

Yes, I am referring to the Amur falcons that were carried to Point Caimere by the strong winds during the recent cyclone. This attracted media attention and raised the eyebrows of environmentalists. It is but natural that a cyclone creates havoc. Obviously, Cyclone Ditwah also brought heavy rain and strong winds to the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast. After creating havoc in Sri Lanka, it has slowly lost its intensity as it crossed the Indian shore. But there were some unusual developments during this cyclone. Various marine species and birds were washed ashore. Two Amur falcons were blown off course during their migration and landed on the Point Calimere (Kodiakarai) coast. These birds are passage migrants and typically migrate through Gujarat and Maharashtra, but the cyclone forced them to divert from their usual route. Are these isolated cases, and could they be neglected? We need to wait and see whether these falcons will stay in the eastern coast or will return to their regular migration route in the western shore. In general, the Amur Falcon stays in India for a brief time. We do not know how the stranded birds will respond to this change. (Picture courtesy: birds of the Indian Subcontinent by Richard Garmmett & others)

This is just one side of the game. I recently came across a viral video showing an elephant saving a spotted deer stranded in floodwaters caused by the cyclone. In another instance, a leopard climbs onto an elephant to escape the floods. These animal behaviours are abnormal and misleading. Comments have already indicated that these video clips are AI-generated. Why these social media champions pass false and fabricated videos is anyone’s guess. Perhaps, more followers may help them monetise their page. But in the process, they pass on misinformation. Today’s netizens must ensure twice that a viral video is genuine or doctored. Else the misinformation would spread like wildfire. The fallout of such misinformation will be harmful and create disturbance to the behavioural pattern of human beings.

Cyclone is a serious matter. Today, Sri Lanka is under a nationwide state of emergency after Cyclone Ditwah triggered catastrophic flooding across the western provinces, killing at least 366 people and leaving entire neighbourhoods submerged. Residents wade through chest-high waters, stranded without food or shelter as they plead for urgent assistance. It seems to be the worst disaster in the country’s history. According to the Disaster Management Centre, key infrastructure like roads and bridges, power and rail networks are damaged and over a million people are affected. While Cyclone Ditwah has weakened into a deep depression near Tamil Nadu, officials warn that floodwaters may take days to recede. Under such a serious calamity, spreading rumours and misinformation will add more damage than good

‘Rain! Rain! When will you come again’

March 25, 2024Dr V Selvarajan Leave a comment

Published in Dwarka Express on 9.3.24

Bangalore has gone dry! All WhatsApp groups are busy with myriad number of forwards on water woes, and the worst part is, the same video clip is forwarded 3 or 4 times in the same group same day. An otherwise oblivious Bengalurian has suddenly become water cognizant. In his routine busy schedule, he may not even recollect when it was last raining. Yes, there is a long dry spell. Precisely, it was on 6^th November, 2023, when there was a heavy downpour in Bengaluru. After that, sadly, not even a remote sign of rain! It is the impact of climate change, grumbles someone. Whether climate change or otherwise, it is true that something is happening, maybe perhaps a fall out of El nino situation. Chennai is also under dry spell after the worst monsoon spell. South Bangalore is in worse situation. Some RWAs have issued circulars to the residents to cut the water usage by 20%. Security guards are deployed to check the misuse. It is given to understand that one RWA has instructed using disposable cutleries, without realizing that the disposables will increase the trash especially single use plastic (SUP). There is already a ban on SUPs.

Bangalore has two major sources of potable water. One is from river Cauvery, i.e., 1450 million per day (MLD) and another one is nearly half of it from ground water from borewells. With both north east and southwest monsoon failed, the state is running short of water. The capacity of Cauvery reservoir is reduced by 50%. Out of about 17000 borewells, almost 7000 are dried out already with the result the residents are left with no other option except to buy water from tankers. The tanker mafia has hiked the water charges to 4 times already. The state govt is going from pillar to post to quench the thirst of the Bengalurians. Even milk lorries are diverted for sourcing water from rural areas.

Lack of proper rain water harvesting, raising encroachments in the lakes and unmindful felling of trees only add fuel to the fire. As the population of the city is growing exponentially, the demand for subsistence needs a lot of expert planning. Urban planning expertise encompasses all aspects which include environmental care as well as infra development. Sustainable development is jeopardized by half baked projects, populist schemes and vote bank politics. Bangalore is not an isolated case. The last decade has witnessed sea change in growth. This in fact has affected the popular tag of retirees’ paradise status. If situation worsens, the city will lose its charm and will no more be preferred destination. Someone is proclaiming that it is all due to mushrooming of IT companies. Superficially, it looks correct but it needs further study as the economic impact of MNCs and IT Companies cannot be ignored. It is true that every Bengalurian gazes at the passing clouds daily with an appeal to Rain God to show mercy. This is just March beginning. Another two months will witness impatient waiting to get a respite from scotching sun. Though the mercury has touched 34 degrees in Bangalore, a Delhiite perhaps may be grinning as he has to brave the annual ritual of 46 degrees in April – June.