From Sacred Groves to Concrete Deserts: The Silent Ecological Collapse of Haryana

Haryana was not always what it is becoming today. Long before rapid urbanisation and unchecked development, the villages of the state followed a deeply rooted ecological wisdom - one that balanced human life with nature.

Every village traditionally preserved a “bani” - a patch of protected forest that acted as a natural lung, biodiversity hub, and cultural symbol. Alongside this, the presence of at least one water body - a pond, johad, or talab - was considered essential. These were not mere resources; they were lifelines.

A Culture Rooted in Simplicity and Nature

The spiritual life of rural Haryana was simple yet profound. Unlike the overwhelming diversity of rituals seen today, devotion was focused and grounded. Villagers worshipped a few deities - Ram, Kirsan Ji, Hanuman, Devi Mata, and Shiv ji - but their practices were closely tied to nature.

They prayed at:

• Banks of ponds

• Local mandirs

• Sooraj Maharaj (the Sun)

• Jal Devta (water deity)

Faith was not performative - it was lived, and it was sustainable.

The Turning Point: Television, Expansion, and Identity Shift

With the arrival of the television era and increasing exposure to external influences, a shift began. Religious practices became more diverse, but also more performative. The simplicity of belief gave way to a growing inclination toward “exploring” multiple gods, gurus, and babas.

This cultural shift coincided with something far more dangerous: the erosion of environmental ethics.

Encroachment: Enabled by Power Structures

The real damage began when political and bureaucratic systems failed in their duty - and instead, became enablers.

• Forest lands, especially village bani areas, began to be encroached upon

• Ecologically sensitive zones were cleared for private gain

• Violations were often ignored or selectively enforced

What was once community-protected land is now vulnerable to systematic exploitation.

Vanishing Forests: A Stark Reality

Haryana today ranks among the lowest in India in terms of forest cover.

• According to the Forest Survey of India (ISFR 2021), Haryana’s forest cover is ~3.6% of its geographical area

• Earlier estimates and ground-level assessments in several districts suggest effective dense forest cover is even lower in functional ecological terms

• A significant portion of this cover lies in the Aravali Range, the state’s last major ecological barrier

Even more concerning:

• The Aravallis act as a natural shield against desertification from the Thar Desert

• They are critical for groundwater recharge in NCR regions

• Legal protections around them have been repeatedly contested or diluted through policy proposals and litigation

This is not development. This is the systematic weakening of ecological safeguards.

Death of Water Bodies

Parallel to forest loss is the silent disappearance of water bodies.

• A study by the Central Ground Water Board and independent assessments indicate that a majority of traditional ponds (johads/talabs) have either dried up or been encroached upon

• In many districts of Haryana, over 70–90% of traditional water bodies have degraded or vanished over the last few decades

Consequences:

• Collapse of local groundwater recharge systems

• Increased dependence on borewells

• Rapid depletion of aquifers

Instead of ecological restoration, current interventions often prioritise infrastructure-heavy models:

• Concrete-lined ponds

• Beautification-driven “rejuvenation” projects

• Tender-based execution with limited ecological planning

This approach replaces natural hydrology with engineered surfaces, reducing long-term sustainability.

Water Infrastructure: A Story of Neglect

Haryana’s water infrastructure reflects long-term policy neglect.

• Only one new canal has been created in decades - and even that appears less a product of long-term water planning and more a response to short-term political priorities.

• Meanwhile, multiple traditional canal systems have been abandoned, reduced, or fallen into disrepair

Data indicators:

• Haryana is categorized as a “over-exploited” groundwater state, with over 80% of assessment units falling in critical or over-exploited categories (Central Ground Water Board)

• Groundwater extraction in the state exceeds 130% of annual recharge in several regions

The consequences are predictable:

• Declining groundwater tables (falling by 0.5–1 meter annually in many blocks)

• Increased drought vulnerability

• Rising cost of irrigation and drinking water

Towards Desertification

The combined impact of:

• Deforestation

• Loss of water bodies

• Unsustainable groundwater extraction

• Administrative and policy failures

is pushing Haryana toward desertification.

According to the Space Applications Centre Desertification Atlas, large parts of Haryana are already experiencing land degradation and desertification trends, particularly in southern districts.

Additional impacts:

• Rising particulate pollution due to dust and land degradation

• Heat island effects in urban clusters

• Reduced agricultural productivity

What was once a resilient agrarian ecosystem is becoming increasingly fragile.

A Crisis We Can No Longer Ignore

This is not just an environmental issue - it is a structural and civilizational crisis.

Haryana is losing:

• Its ecological balance

• Its traditional water wisdom

• Its community-led conservation systems

The question is no longer whether we are in crisis.
The real question is: how far will we go before we choose to stop?

Policy Imperatives Going Forward

• Legal strengthening of Aravali protection frameworks

• Restoration of traditional water bodies using ecological methods (not concrete engineering)

• Strict anti-encroachment enforcement on common lands

• Decentralised water governance at village level

• Transparency in public works and tendering processes

If urgent corrective measures are not taken, the trajectory points toward irreversible ecological damage.

What we are witnessing is not development.

It is devastation.