VANISHING MOUNTAINS: A STUDY OF ILLEGAL MINING IN THE ARAVALLIS OF SOUTH-WESTERN DISTRICTS OF HARYANA AND ITS EFFECT ON THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN LIFE

Illegal mining activities have been rampant since decades. These activities have literally changed the face of the landscape. The mountains have disappeared, surface have been left dotted with deep mining pits, villagers have to live a substandard life due to the negative effects of mining in the form of decreased water quality, poor air quality, mining related accidents, damaged houses because of stone blasting and much more. The authorities have turned a blind eye towards the common man's problem and thus the residents of nearby villages are left with no choice but to live under silence. The unscientific and illegal mining practices in the south- west region of Haryana in the districts of Mehandargarh, Dadri and Bhiwani has altered the physical landscape and affected the socio cultural life of nearby villages to a great extent. The study is a step in the direction of describing how an anthropogenic activity if done without any rules and order and in unscientific manner can affect the environment to unimaginable