India, April 27 -- What began as a routine civic tip-off in Gurugram turned into a far more serious discovery of large-scale encroachment and illegal dumping within the eco-sensitive stretches of the Aravalli Range and the Aravalli Biodiversity Park.

As a reporter still understanding the city, the initial lead did not come as a surprise. But a visit to the site quickly revealed that the situation was far more extensive than anticipated. Clear signs of illegal activity stretched across the landscape, pointing to a crisis much deeper than it first appeared.

At first glance, the residential neighbourhood gave no indication of what lay beyond. Muddy trails appeared ordinary and easy to overlook. But as I followed them further in, the terrai...