Protests have erupted across northern India after the Supreme Court issued a new definition for the Aravalli hills – one of the world's oldest mountain ranges stretching across the states of Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, and Delhi.
Under the new definition, approved by the court following central government suggestions, an Aravalli hill is any landform with a minimum elevation of 100 metres (328 ft) from the adjacent land. A cluster of such hills less than half a kilometre of each other, combined with the land between them, are classified as an Aravalli range.
Conservationists contend that classifying Aravalli hills by height could leave numerous lower, scrub-covered but ecologically critical hills unprotected from mining and construction.
The central administration, on the other hand, maintains that the new definition is meant to strengthen regulation and establish consistency and not weaken protections.
The Roots of the Unrest
Recently, peaceful protests were held in cities such as Gurugram and Udaipur, organized by local residents, farmers, environmental activists, and, at times, lawyers and political groups.
A founder member of a prominent environmental group stated that the new definition risks undermining the critical role of the Aravalli range in "preventing desertification, replenishing aquifers and safeguarding local economies" in northwest India.
The lower, scrub-covered hills play a vital role in preventing desertification, boosting water tables and supporting livelihoods as per experts.
"The Aravalli range must not be categorized solely by elevation, but by its ecological, geological and climatic purpose," noted an environmental activist involved in the campaign to preserve the Aravallis.
He added that, globally, mountain ranges are identified by the functions they perform, not by arbitrary elevation thresholds.
"Any feature that is geologically part of the Aravalli system and serves a vital purpose in ecology or combating desertification must be acknowledged as a component of the system, regardless of its height."
Activists are demanding that the government define Aravalli areas using research-based parameters, encompassing geography, ecology, animal corridors and environmental durability.
One activist warned that the court's new definition could encourage mining, construction and commercial activity, increasing the risk of environmental harm.
Political opponents have ramped up their censure, warning that the new definition could cause serious ecological damage.
One political leader said that protecting the Aravallis is "fundamentally linked to Delhi's survival." Another leader described the range the state's "lifeline," stating that without it, "the entire area up to Delhi would have turned into a desert."
What Does the Government Say?
India's central government has sought to downplay these concerns.
In a official release, it said the new definition is intended to bolster governance and bring uniformity, noting that a single, objective definition was needed to oversee extraction consistently across states.
It added that the new definition covers the whole mountainous region – incorporating slopes, related features, and connecting zones – clearly safeguarding hill clusters and their connections.
The national environment department clarified it is wrong to assume that mining will be allowed on all landforms under 100 metres.
The government says areas inside the Aravalli hills or ranges are not eligible for new mining leases, while existing ones can continue if they follow sustainable mining norms.
It noted that mining remains banned in core "inviolate" areas – reserved woodlands, environmentally fragile 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 147,000 sqkm Aravalli range could potentially be mined, and only after detailed studies and formal clearance.
However, many of the protesting groups say that protests will persist and that they are considering judicial avenues to challenge the court's new definition.
