Why The Nation's Aravalli Hills Have Become the Epicenter of Increasing Unrest.

Demonstrations have broken out across northern India after the Supreme Court issued a new definition for the Aravalli hills – among the planet's most ancient mountain ranges stretching across the states of Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, and the capital territory.

As per the revised criteria, approved by the court following federal government recommendations, an Aravalli hill is any geographical feature with a minimum elevation of 100 metres (328 ft) from the adjacent land. A cluster of such hills within 500 metres of each other, along with the land between them, are classified as an Aravalli range.

Environmentalists argue that defining Aravalli hills based on elevation could leave numerous lower, scrub-covered but ecologically critical hills unprotected from mining and construction.

The federal government, on the other hand, says that the new definition is meant to strengthen regulation and bring uniformity and not dilute safeguards.

What is Sparking the Demonstrations?

Recently, peaceful protests were held in cities including Gurugram and Udaipur, organized by community members, farmers, environmental activists, and, in some cases, lawyers and political parties.

An organizing member of a prominent conservation collective remarked that the new definition threatens to compromise the critical role of the Aravalli range in "preventing desertification, replenishing aquifers and protecting livelihoods" in the northwestern region.

The shorter, vegetated hills perform a crucial function in preventing desertification, boosting water tables and supporting livelihoods as per experts.

"The Aravalli range should not be defined by height alone, but by its ecological, geological and climatic role," noted an ecology advocate involved in the movement 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 structurally a component of the Aravalli system and plays a critical role in the ecosystem or preventing desertification must be acknowledged as part of the range, irrespective of its height."

Protesters are calling for that the government define Aravalli areas using research-based parameters, including geography, biodiversity, animal corridors and climate resilience.

A campaigner cautioned that the court's new definition could encourage mining, construction and commercial activity, increasing the threat of ecological damage.

Opposition parties have ramped up their censure, cautioning that the new definition might lead to significant environmental degradation.

One political leader said that safeguarding the Aravallis is "fundamentally linked to Delhi's survival." Another leader called the range the state's "lifeline," 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 sought to downplay these concerns.

In a recent statement, it asserted the new definition is intended to bolster governance and bring uniformity, noting that a clear, unambiguous definition was needed to regulate mining consistently across states.

It added that the new definition encompasses the whole mountainous region – including slopes, related features, and intervening areas – explicitly protecting hill clusters and their linkages.

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

The government says areas within the Aravalli hills or ranges are excluded from new mining leases, while current operations can continue if they adhere to sustainable mining norms.

It added that mining remains banned in core "protected" areas – reserved woodlands, environmentally fragile zones, and wetlands – aside from certain essential, national security, and nuclear minerals permitted by law.

The Environment Minister said only about two percent of the 147,000 sqkm Aravalli range could potentially be mined, and only after comprehensive assessments and official approval.

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