The Jodhpur bench of the Rajasthan High Court is exploring how to use technology like Google Earth to monitor construction activities in the ecologically sensitive Aravalli Hills of Udaipur. Fascinated by a study conducted by students of Mohanlal Sukhdiya University leveraging such technology, the court has directed the state government to explain how it can be utilized to demarcate and tag the hills. It also asked the students to continue upgrading their analysis and providing inputs, while directing the Additional Advocate General to assist in outlining the government's technology usage plans for demarcation and addressing violations of hill bylaws.
The Jodhpur bench of the Rajasthan High Court has taken notice of efforts by students of Mohanlal Sukhdiya University in Udaipur to leverage technology like Google Earth to assess urban development in the Aravalli Hills of Udaipur. Fascinated by the study, which highlighted violations of hill bylaws regarding construction in the Aravallis, the court has directed the state government to explain how such technology can be used to demarcate and tag the hills in the lake district.
The division bench, hearing a PIL filed by the Jheel Sanrakshan Samiti regarding rampant construction violating hill bylaws, requested that students to continue upgrading their analysis and providing more inputs to the court. It also directed the Additional Advocate General to assist the court in explaining how the government plans to use such technology for demarcation.
The court order stated that an expert should be present to outline steps taken for capacity building to introduce technology for demarcation and address grave violations changing the region's topography. The expert must submit information on the state's technology usage in this regard.
Meanwhile, the court stayed all construction activities - buildings, resorts or motels - violating hill bylaws. It also said any construction activity deviating from the hill by-laws shall be kept in abeyance or status quo shall be maintained until the next date of hearing on May 27. Previously, the court had directed the government to adopt scientific methods for dealing with the problems of encroachment on forest land where natural resources like forests, reserve lands, hills, reservoirs and protected areas are directly in conflict with the expanding population pushing city limits.
By leveraging innovative technological solutions developed by students and exploring capacity building for wider adoption, the High Court's proactive approach sets an important precedent for monitoring and enforcement of environmental regulations. With rampant violations threatening to destroy the unique landscape and ecology of the Aravallis, effective oversight through satellite imagery and geospatial tools could help stem the damage if systematically incorporated into the state government's conservation efforts.
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