Why India's Aravalli Mountain Range Are at the Centre of Escalating Unrest.

Demonstrations have broken out across northern India after the Supreme Court redefined the Aravalli hills – one of the world's oldest mountain ranges spanning 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) from 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 classifying Aravalli hills by height risks leaving many shorter, vegetation-clad but ecologically critical hills vulnerable to mining and construction.

The federal government, on the other hand, maintains that the new definition is designed to strengthen regulation and bring uniformity and not weaken protections.

What is Sparking the Demonstrations?

Recently, calm demonstrations were held in cities such as Gurugram and Udaipur, led by local residents, farmers, green activists, and, at times, lawyers and political parties.

A founder member of a key environmental group remarked that the new definition risks undermining the essential function of the Aravalli range in "preventing desertification, recharging groundwater and protecting livelihoods" in the northwestern region.

The lower, scrub-covered hills play a vital role in stopping desert creep, recharging groundwater and sustaining communities according to experts.

"This mountain system should not be defined by height alone, but by its ecological, geological and climatic purpose," noted an environmental activist associated with the campaign to preserve the Aravallis.

He said that, globally, mountain ranges are classified by the roles they play, 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 should be recognised as part of the range, regardless of its height."

Activists are demanding that the government delineate Aravalli areas using research-based parameters, encompassing topography, ecology, animal corridors and environmental durability.

A campaigner cautioned 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 significant environmental degradation.

One political leader declared that safeguarding the Aravallis is "inseparable from Delhi's survival." Another leader described the range the state's "life-support system," stating that without it, "the entire area up to Delhi would have become a desert."

Official Position

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

In a recent communication, it said the new definition is meant to strengthen regulation and create standardization, noting that a single, objective definition was required to oversee extraction uniformly across states.

It added that the new definition covers the entire hill system – including slopes, related features, and intervening areas – explicitly protecting hill clusters and their linkages.

The federal environment ministry clarified it is wrong to assume that mining will be permitted on all landforms under 100 metres.

The government states 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 added that mining remains prohibited in core "inviolate" areas – reserved woodlands, environmentally fragile zones, and wetlands – except for certain essential, national security, and nuclear minerals allowed by law.

The Environment Minister said only about two percent of the vast Aravalli range might be open to extraction, and only after comprehensive assessments and formal clearance.

However, many of the protesting groups contend that demonstrations will continue and that they are exploring legal options to challenge the court's new definition.