Health & Fitness
Tue, December 23, 2025
Mon, December 22, 2025
Sun, December 21, 2025
Sat, December 20, 2025
Aravalli Hills: The Lifeline of Rajasthan's Climate and Health
//health-fitness.news-articles.net/content/2025/ .. -lifeline-of-rajasthan-s-climate-and-health.html
Published in Health and Fitness on Monday, December 22nd 2025 at 5:55 GMT by TheHealthSite- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Summarising “What if the Aravalli Hills vanished? The health risks of climate change you need to know”
The Health Site’s feature takes a close look at the Aravalli Range—India’s oldest and one of its most important ecological corridors—and asks a stark question: what happens to the health of the people who live along its spine if the hills disappear? Through a blend of scientific data, case‑study anecdotes and policy‑level commentary, the article explains why the Aravalli hills are a natural lifeline for Rajasthan and its neighbours, how climate change threatens to erode that lifeline, and what public‑health risks would ensue.
1. The Aravalli Range: a living backbone
The article opens with a concise geography of the Aravalli Range, stretching roughly 1,300 km from the foothills of the Himalayas down to the Thar Desert. It notes that the hills are “the lungs of Rajasthan” – they intercept monsoon winds, capture rainfall, and feed over 200 rivers and streams that sustain both biodiversity and human settlements. The text cites a 2019 survey by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) that found the Aravalli forest cover had shrunk from about 25 % in the 1970s to less than 10 % today, largely due to deforestation, overgrazing and shifting agriculture.
The piece also links to the “Aravalli Climate Resilience Initiative” (ACRI), a joint government‑NGO effort aimed at restoring 400 000 ha of degraded land. The initiative is mentioned as a potential lifeline that could curb the cascade of climate‑related health risks the article later elaborates on.
2. Climate change hitting the hills hard
The heart of the article is an exposition of how global warming is already reshaping the Aravalli ecosystem. Key points include:
| Impact | Description |
|---|---|
| Temperature rise | The Aravalli region is warming 0.7 °C per decade, exceeding the global average. Heat waves are now lasting up to 14 days in places like Jaipur. |
| Reduced monsoon rainfall | Modelling from the Indian Meteorological Department projects a 15–20 % drop in winter rains by 2030, with a 10 % increase in the intensity of rainfall events – leading to flash floods and soil erosion. |
| Soil degradation | Loss of vegetative cover increases surface runoff, dries out the soil, and reduces the hills’ capacity to recharge groundwater. |
| Biodiversity loss | Species such as the endangered Indian wild ass and several migratory birds are already declining because of shrinking habitats. |
The article pulls in a World Bank graph showing a steep decline in vegetation index across the Aravalli corridor over the past 25 years, linking this to a higher frequency of dust storms that the hills once mitigated.
3. Health risks that would follow
Having laid out the environmental changes, the article shifts to public‑health implications. It highlights several major categories of risk:
a) Heat‑related illnesses
The loss of the hills’ moderating effect would mean higher daytime temperatures and lower nighttime cooling. This amplifies the risk of heat stroke, dehydration, and exacerbations of cardiovascular and respiratory conditions. The piece cites a 2021 Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) study that found a 23 % increase in hospital admissions for heat‑related disorders during the 2015 heat wave.
b) Respiratory problems
The Aravalli Range currently acts as a natural filter, trapping dust and reducing airborne particulate matter (PM₂.₅). With deforestation, more fine dust can travel into cities such as Jaipur and Udaipur, worsening asthma, chronic bronchitis and acute respiratory infections.
c) Vector‑borne diseases
Drier, warmer conditions create breeding grounds for mosquitoes and ticks. The article mentions a 2019 outbreak of chikungunya in rural Aravalli villages that coincided with an unusually dry monsoon, and it warns that dengue could become a perennial problem if water bodies become stagnant.
d) Food and water insecurity
Groundwater depletion would reduce drinking‑water availability. The article reports that water‑borne illnesses like cholera have already risen in villages downstream of the hills, as seen in a 2022 survey by the Rajasthan State Health Department. Malnutrition, especially in children, is projected to rise as crop yields decline due to heat stress and erratic rainfall.
e) Mental health
Beyond the physical ailments, the piece discusses how prolonged heat, water scarcity and food shortages can trigger anxiety, depression, and social unrest. A referenced study by the Indian Institute of Public Health notes a 12 % uptick in depression scores among rural residents during heat‑wave periods.
4. Mitigation and adaptation strategies
The article closes on a hopeful note by outlining how current and planned interventions could curb these risks. It highlights:
- Afforestation and re‑vegetation – The “Green Aravalli” program is working to plant 100 million trees over the next decade, improving shade cover and soil moisture.
- Urban green spaces – City councils are mandated to increase green coverage by 15 % to offset heat island effects.
- Water harvesting and drip irrigation – These techniques are already being piloted in several villages, reducing water use by 30 % and stabilising crop yields.
- Health‑system strengthening – The Rajasthan government is investing in community health workers who can monitor heat‑related illnesses and distribute educational materials on hydration and heat‑stroke prevention.
The article also links to WHO’s “Climate Change and Health” fact sheet, underscoring the global relevance of the Aravalli case.
5. Take‑away
In sum, the piece paints a vivid picture: the Aravalli Range is more than a scenic backdrop; it is a vital climate regulator that protects Rajasthan’s health. Climate‑induced erosion of the hills would unleash a cascade of temperature‑related illnesses, respiratory problems, vector‑borne infections, and food and water insecurity, with ripple effects on mental wellbeing. The article urges readers to recognise that protecting the hills is synonymous with protecting human life – a lesson that resonates well beyond India’s borders.
Read the Full TheHealthSite Article at:
[ https://www.thehealthsite.com/diseases-conditions/what-if-the-aravalli-hills-vanished-the-health-risks-of-climate-change-you-need-to-know-1287654/ ]
