The ancient Aravalli Hills, one of India’s oldest geological formations, have become the centre of a heated environmental and legal clash as changes to their official definition have raised fears of accelerated ecological damage and renewed mining pressures.
Stretching across Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, and into Gujarat, the Aravalli range has long been valued for stabilising North India’s climate, replenishing groundwater, and acting as a natural barrier against desertification from the Thar. A recent Supreme Court decision to adopt a new uniform elevation-based definition of the hills has ignited widespread debate over the future of this fragile ecosystem and its governance.
In November 2025, the apex court endorsed a technical definition stipulating that only landforms rising at least 100 metres above surrounding terrain and clustered within 500 metres qualify as part of the Aravalli range. Critics warn that this approach could exclude a majority of the landscape from legal protection, since many ecologically vital ridges fall below the threshold.
Experts argue that even lower ridges, scrublands, and shallow hillocks perform crucial ecological functions such as groundwater recharge, dust filtration, and habitat continuity. Excluding them could pave the way for expanded mining, construction, and infrastructure projects, undermining decades of conservation efforts.The redefinition faced immediate backlash. Conservationists, citizen groups, and student organisations across northern India protested policy changes they say would weaken environmental safeguards. Demonstrations highlighted fears of worsening air quality, water scarcity, and accelerated desertification if protections were rolled back.
In response, the Supreme Court placed the new definition on hold in late December 2025. The bench ordered the formation of a high-powered expert committee to reassess the criteria for delineating the range. Mining and related activities remain suspended until the committee completes its review.
Officials from the environment ministry emphasised that the update is not intended to dilute protections. They assured that no new mining leases would be granted until a comprehensive scientific management plan is finalised. The revised definition, they said, primarily seeks to clarify jurisdictional ambiguities rather than open new areas to exploitation.
Nevertheless, critics maintain that a strictly height-based criterion overlooks the integrated nature of the Aravalli ecosystem. Studies highlight that even gentle slopes and low ridges contribute to the ecological continuity of the hills. Arbitrary thresholds could compromise landscape-scale conservation.
The Aravallis have long borne the impact of extensive mining and quarrying. Decades of both licensed and illegal extraction, particularly in Rajasthan and Haryana, have hollowed hills, lowered water tables, and fragmented habitats. Despite a 2009 mining ban in several districts near the National Capital Region, smaller breaches persist, contributing to groundwater depletion and dust pollution.
Environmental scientists warn that ongoing uncertainty around definitions could embolden commercial interests to pursue stone crushing and infrastructure projects in previously protected areas. Any erosion of safeguards could have cascading effects on biodiversity, water security, and regional climate stability, particularly in northern India where air pollution and drying aquifers remain pressing challenges.
The Aravalli controversy highlights a broader tension in India’s development trajectory: balancing economic growth with ecological stability. As urbanisation and infrastructure demands increase, policymakers face pressure to integrate science, law, and community voices into durable conservation strategies.
For now, the legal limbo created by the Supreme Court’s expert review has paused regulatory changes, but the debate over protecting one of India’s oldest landscapes is far from over. The committee’s findings are expected to shape environmental policy and advocacy in the region for years to come.
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