Barmer/Jaisalmer, Jan. 24 -- A 725-kilometre-long rally to protect the sacred 'Orans' - traditional sacred groves regarded as the lifeline of the Thar desert - began on Friday from the Tanot Rai Mata Temple in Jaisalmer and continued its journey towards Jaipur. The "Oran Bachao Padyatra" (Save Orans foot march), which will pass through several villages and towns over the next 30 days, aims to mobilise public opinion before reaching Jaipur. Protesters plan to launch an indefinite sit-in in the state capital to press their demand for officially recording Oran lands in revenue records. Sumer Singh Savanta of Team Oran said the foundation of the current movement lies in an unfulfilled assurance to record Orans in revenue records despite the passage of three months since the commitment was made. He said the final decision would now be taken at an indefinite protest planned in Jaipur. Highlighting the scale of the issue, environmental activist Bhopal Singh Jhaloda said Rajasthan has nearly 25,000 Orans spread over lakhs of hectares, many of which exist only through centuries-old social recognition. According to activists, proposals related to 17,562 bighas of land, including several prominent Orans, are currently pending with the government. They allege that the absence of formal recognition has allowed diversion of Oran land for solar energy projects and commercial activities, posing a serious threat to the fragile desert ecosystem....