The Reason India's Aravalli Hills Have Become the Epicenter of Growing Demonstrations.

Protests have erupted across the northern part of the country after the Supreme Court issued a new definition for the Aravalli hills – one of the world's oldest mountain ranges spanning the states of Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, and Delhi.

According to the fresh parameters, endorsed by the court following federal government recommendations, an Aravalli hill is any landform rising at least 100 metres (328 ft) from the adjacent land. A cluster of such hills within 500 metres of each other, combined with the land between them, are considered an Aravalli range.

Ecologists assert that defining Aravalli hills by height risks leaving many shorter, vegetation-clad but ecologically critical hills unprotected from mining and construction.

The federal government, however, maintains that the revised definition is meant to enhance oversight and establish consistency and not dilute safeguards.

The Roots of the Unrest

Recently, calm demonstrations were held in cities including Gurugram and Udaipur, led by community members, farmers, environmental activists, and, in some cases, lawyers and political parties.

An organizing member of a prominent environmental group stated that the new definition threatens to compromise 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 perform a crucial function in stopping desert creep, recharging groundwater and sustaining communities according to experts.

"The Aravalli range should not be defined by height alone, but by its ecological, geological and climatic role," noted an ecology advocate associated with the movement to save the Aravallis.

He pointed out that, internationally, mountain ranges are identified by the roles they play, not by random height benchmarks.

"Any landform that is geologically part of the Aravalli system and serves a vital purpose in the ecosystem or combating desertification must be acknowledged as a component of the system, regardless of its height."

Activists are demanding that the government delineate Aravalli areas using scientific criteria, including geography, biodiversity, wildlife connectivity and environmental durability.

One activist warned that the court's new definition could encourage extractive industries, development and business projects, heightening the threat of environmental harm.

Opposition parties have ramped up their censure, warning that the new definition might lead to serious ecological damage.

One political leader declared that protecting the Aravallis is "fundamentally linked to Delhi's survival." Another leader described the range the state's "lifeline," stating that without it, "a vast region up to Delhi would have turned into a desert."

The Government's Stance

India's federal government has sought to downplay these concerns.

In a recent communication, it asserted the new definition is meant 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 entire hill system – including slopes, related features, and intervening areas – clearly safeguarding hill clusters and their connections.

The national environment department said it is incorrect to assume that mining will be allowed on all landforms under 100 metres.

The government states areas within the Aravalli hills or ranges are excluded from new mining leases, while current operations can continue if they follow environmentally sound practices.

It added that mining remains prohibited in core "protected" areas – reserved woodlands, environmentally fragile zones, and wetlands – aside from certain critical, strategic, and atomic minerals allowed by law.

The Environment Minister indicated only about 2% of the vast Aravalli range could potentially be mined, and only after comprehensive assessments and formal clearance.

However, many of the protesting groups contend that protests will persist and that they are exploring judicial avenues to challenge the court's new definition.