🔗 Share this article The Reason India's Aravalli Mountain Range Have Become the Epicenter of Increasing Unrest. A panoramic shot of a part of the Aravalli terrain in Rajasthan. Protests have erupted across the northern part of the country after the Supreme Court redefined the Aravalli hills – one of the world's oldest geological formations stretching across the states of Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, and the capital territory. Under the new definition, endorsed by the court following central government recommendations, an Aravalli hill is any geographical feature rising at least 100 metres (328 ft) above the surrounding terrain. A cluster of such hills within 500 metres of each other, combined with the land between them, are deemed to be an Aravalli range. Conservationists contend that defining Aravalli hills by height potentially excludes numerous lower, scrub-covered but vitally important hills vulnerable to quarrying and development. The federal government, however, states that the revised definition is meant to strengthen regulation and bring uniformity and not weaken protections. Several protesters in the city of Gurugram near Delhi hold signs to protect the Aravallis. The Roots of the Unrest Recently, peaceful protests were held in cities such as Gurugram and Udaipur, led by local residents, farmers, environmental activists, and, at times, lawyers and political groups. A founder member of a prominent conservation collective stated that the new definition risks undermining the critical role of the Aravalli range in "halting desert expansion, recharging groundwater and safeguarding local economies" in the northwestern region. The lower, scrub-covered hills play a vital role in preventing desertification, boosting water tables and sustaining communities as per experts. "The Aravalli range should not be defined solely by elevation, but by its environmental, physical and weather-related function," said an environmental activist involved in the campaign to save the Aravallis. He said that, internationally, mountains and hill systems are classified by the functions they perform, not by arbitrary elevation thresholds. "Any feature that is geologically part of the Aravalli system and plays a critical role in ecology or preventing desertification must be acknowledged as part of the range, irrespective of its height." Protesters are calling for that the government delineate Aravalli areas using research-based parameters, encompassing geography, biodiversity, animal corridors and environmental durability. A campaigner cautioned that the court's new definition could encourage extractive industries, development and business projects, heightening the risk of environmental harm. Political opponents have stepped up criticism, cautioning that the new definition could cause serious ecological damage. A senior politician said that safeguarding the Aravallis is "fundamentally linked to Delhi's survival." Another leader described the range the state's "life-support system," adding that without it, "a vast region up to Delhi would have turned into a desert." The Government's Stance India's federal government has attempted to minimize these concerns. In a official release, it asserted the new definition is intended to strengthen regulation and create standardization, noting that a single, objective definition was required to oversee extraction consistently across states. It added that the new definition encompasses the entire hill system – incorporating slopes, associated landforms, and intervening areas – explicitly protecting hill clusters and their connections. The federal environment ministry said it is incorrect to presume that mining will be allowed on all landforms under 100 metres. The government states areas inside the Aravalli hills or ranges are excluded from new mining leases, while current operations can continue if they adhere to environmentally sound practices. It noted that mining remains banned in core "inviolate" areas – protected forests, eco-sensitive zones, and wetlands – except for certain essential, national security, and nuclear minerals permitted by law. The minister responsible for ecology said only about two percent of the vast Aravalli range could potentially be mined, and only after comprehensive assessments and formal clearance. Nevertheless, many of the demonstrating organizations contend that protests will persist and that they are considering judicial avenues to challenge the court's new definition.
A panoramic shot of a part of the Aravalli terrain in Rajasthan. Protests have erupted across the northern part of the country after the Supreme Court redefined the Aravalli hills – one of the world's oldest geological formations stretching across the states of Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, and the capital territory. Under the new definition, endorsed by the court following central government recommendations, an Aravalli hill is any geographical feature rising at least 100 metres (328 ft) above the surrounding terrain. A cluster of such hills within 500 metres of each other, combined with the land between them, are deemed to be an Aravalli range. Conservationists contend that defining Aravalli hills by height potentially excludes numerous lower, scrub-covered but vitally important hills vulnerable to quarrying and development. The federal government, however, states that the revised definition is meant to strengthen regulation and bring uniformity and not weaken protections. Several protesters in the city of Gurugram near Delhi hold signs to protect the Aravallis. The Roots of the Unrest Recently, peaceful protests were held in cities such as Gurugram and Udaipur, led by local residents, farmers, environmental activists, and, at times, lawyers and political groups. A founder member of a prominent conservation collective stated that the new definition risks undermining the critical role of the Aravalli range in "halting desert expansion, recharging groundwater and safeguarding local economies" in the northwestern region. The lower, scrub-covered hills play a vital role in preventing desertification, boosting water tables and sustaining communities as per experts. "The Aravalli range should not be defined solely by elevation, but by its environmental, physical and weather-related function," said an environmental activist involved in the campaign to save the Aravallis. He said that, internationally, mountains and hill systems are classified by the functions they perform, not by arbitrary elevation thresholds. "Any feature that is geologically part of the Aravalli system and plays a critical role in ecology or preventing desertification must be acknowledged as part of the range, irrespective of its height." Protesters are calling for that the government delineate Aravalli areas using research-based parameters, encompassing geography, biodiversity, animal corridors and environmental durability. A campaigner cautioned that the court's new definition could encourage extractive industries, development and business projects, heightening the risk of environmental harm. Political opponents have stepped up criticism, cautioning that the new definition could cause serious ecological damage. A senior politician said that safeguarding the Aravallis is "fundamentally linked to Delhi's survival." Another leader described the range the state's "life-support system," adding that without it, "a vast region up to Delhi would have turned into a desert." The Government's Stance India's federal government has attempted to minimize these concerns. In a official release, it asserted the new definition is intended to strengthen regulation and create standardization, noting that a single, objective definition was required to oversee extraction consistently across states. It added that the new definition encompasses the entire hill system – incorporating slopes, associated landforms, and intervening areas – explicitly protecting hill clusters and their connections. The federal environment ministry said it is incorrect to presume that mining will be allowed on all landforms under 100 metres. The government states areas inside the Aravalli hills or ranges are excluded from new mining leases, while current operations can continue if they adhere to environmentally sound practices. It noted that mining remains banned in core "inviolate" areas – protected forests, eco-sensitive zones, and wetlands – except for certain essential, national security, and nuclear minerals permitted by law. The minister responsible for ecology said only about two percent of the vast Aravalli range could potentially be mined, and only after comprehensive assessments and formal clearance. Nevertheless, many of the demonstrating organizations contend that protests will persist and that they are considering judicial avenues to challenge the court's new definition.