Aravalli Hills

A new Supreme Court-backed definition of the Aravalli Hills has triggered fears of mining, environmental damage, and a dilution of decades-old protections.

Supreme Court pauses its Aravalli ruling as new impact studies loom, while fresh data shows Delhi faces the steepest forest degradation in the fragile range

Perhaps the apex court should have gone further in its review. Following its orders, the government has issued a complete ban on all new mining licences across the entire Aravalli range

The Supreme Court said confusion over how the Aravalli range was defined warranted a pause, and ordered an independent expert panel to reassess the environmental impact of mining

The Congress on Monday claimed that not just mining, but the real estate development that is being opened up by the double-engine government in Rajasthan will cause further havoc in an "already devastated" ecosystem of the Aravallis. Congress general secretary and former environment minister Jairam Ramesh said this is being done against the recommendations of the Forest Survey of India. "As the nation awaits the Supreme Court's latest directives on the Aravallis, here is more evidence of how the new definition of the Aravallis will cause further havoc in an already devastated ecosystem. "It is not just mining but real estate development that is being opened up by the double-engine sarkar in New Delhi-Jaipur against the recommendations of the Forest Survey of India," Ramesh said in a post on X. The Congress has been strongly opposed to the redefinition of the Aravallis and has raised concerns over it, claiming that this will lead to destroying the hills by opening them to mining, re

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Saturday said the Aravalli mountain range is an invaluable natural heritage of the state and asserted that his government will not allow any tampering with its natural form. Chairing a review meeting of the forest, environment and mining departments at the chief minister's residence, he directed officials to launch special joint drives against illegal mining in Aravali districts in coordination with the police department. The opposition Congress has claimed that more than 90 per cent of the Aravallis will not be protected under the redefinition of the hills and will open them up for mining and other activities. Following a row over the issue, the Centre has issued directions to states for a complete ban on granting new mining leases within the mountain range. "The government's stand is clear. No new mining will be permitted in the Aravalli region. Instructions issued by the Centre in this regard will be implemented uniformly across the ..

The SC's acceptance of a 100-metre hill rule has alarmed experts who fear it could exclude large parts of the Aravallis from protection, affecting mining limits, forest cover and groundwater security

The Centre has directed states to halt new mining leases in the Aravalli range, citing environmental concerns, days after the Supreme Court defined the hills, leaving low-lying areas unprotected

An Aravalli is any landform rising at least 100 meters above surrounding terrain and an Aravalli range consists of two or more such hills within 500 meters from each other

The Aravallis are the country's natural heritage and have great ecological value, the Congress on Tuesday said, as it wondered why the Modi government was "hell-bent" on redefining the mountain range and for whose benefit. In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the recent "clarifications" on the ancient mountain range given by the Environment and Forest Minister raise more questions. "Aravallis are part of our natural heritage and have great ecological value. They need substantial restoration and meaningful protection. Why is the Modi Government hellbent on redefining them? To what end? For whose benefit? "And why are the recommendations of a professional organisation like the Forest Survey of India being deliberately ignored and set aside?" he asked. Ramesh also said, "The very recent 'clarifications' given by the Union Minister of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change on the Aravallis issue raise even more questions and doubts." The Congress leader, who

Yadav said the apex court's acceptance of the Centre's definition of the Aravalli hills and its approval of sustainable mining norms marked a major moment for environmental governance

Environmental activists on Saturday held protests in Haryana's Gurugram and Rajasthan's Udaipur against the new elevation-based definition of what constitutes the Aravalli hills, which they feared could prove detrimental to the ecological balance of one of the country's oldest mountain ranges. In Gurugram, a large number of activists, members of social organisations and locals gathered outside the residence of Cabinet minister Rao Narbir Singh and staged a peaceful protest. The protesters held banners and placards, and raised slogans such as "Save Aravalli, Save the Future" and "No Aravalli, No Life". They expressed deep concern over the Supreme Court order ratifying the new definition. The top court, on November 20, 2025, accepted the recommendations of a committee under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change on the definition of Aravalli Hills and Ranges. According to the new definition, "Aravalli Hill is any landform in designated Aravalli districts with an ...

The Aravalli range is more than a backdrop to Delhi-NCR. It helps recharge groundwater, buffers dust and desert winds, and supports crucial wildlife corridors.

It is worth noting that the bulk of the degradation of the Aravallis is the result of plain illegal activities, costing state governments crores of rupees in revenue

The disappearance of the hills in the Aravalli range as a result of illegal mining, land encroachment and urbanisation has led to an increase in sandstorms in Rajasthan, according to a study by the Central University Rajasthan. The study, done by Professor Sharma and PhD scholar Alok Raj, was titled Assessment of land-use dynamics of the Aravalli range (India) using integrated geospatial and CART approach. It was recently published in the international journal Earth Science Informatics'. "The disappearance of hills is one of the reasons behind rising sandstorms. Evidence suggests that places which saw the vanishing hills, like Bharatpur, Dholpur, Jaipur, and Chittorgarh, have been facing more sandstorms than usual," said LK Sharma, professor and HOD Environmental Science at CURAJ. In April and May this year, several of these areas were swept by sandstorms and rain, which even claimed several lives. According to the report, at least 31 hills in the upper Aravalli range ...

Haryana police makes submission before National Green Tribunal about its investigation

By selling natural mineral water at a nominal cost of Rs 3 per litre for a population of about 3.5 million people, Jaipur could earn a revenue of over Rs 10 billion per year

Vandalisation of the hills can lead to disaster