India, Dec. 1 -- Ravines of Chambal evoke images of deep gullies along the Chambal river, long infamous as hideouts of dacoits. Today, however, these gorges face a different threat-encroachment by those seeking to "reclaim" the land. Formed by erosion due to river flow or rainfall, ravines are steep, degraded landforms. The Chambal ravines, spanning Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, are often regarded as badlands or wastelands: severely degraded, unproductive and largely left unused.

Efforts have been on to utilise these lands through levelling, or flattening the terrains to make the slope gentler and more productive. For instance, in Morena district of Madhya Pradesh, farmers have been levelling ravines in hopes of gaining cu...