Why The Nation's Aravalli Mountain Range Are at the Centre of Growing Unrest.

Unrest has flared 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 geological formations stretching across the states of Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, and Delhi.

According to the fresh parameters, endorsed by the court based on federal government suggestions, an Aravalli hill is any geographical feature with a minimum elevation of 100 metres (328 ft) from the surrounding terrain. Two or more such hills less than half a kilometre of each other, combined with the land between them, are classified as an Aravalli range.

Environmentalists argue that classifying Aravalli hills by height could leave many lower, scrub-covered but ecologically critical hills vulnerable to quarrying and development.

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

Why are People Protesting?

Recently, peaceful protests took place in cities such as Gurugram and Udaipur, organized by local residents, farmers, environmental activists, and, at times, lawyers and political groups.

An organizing member of a key conservation collective remarked that the new definition threatens to compromise the critical role of the Aravalli range in "preventing desertification, recharging groundwater and protecting livelihoods" in northwest India.

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

"The Aravalli range must not be categorized by height alone, but by its environmental, physical and weather-related role," said an ecology advocate involved in the campaign to save the Aravallis.

He said that, globally, mountain ranges are classified by the roles they play, not by arbitrary elevation thresholds.

"Any landform that is structurally a component 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, animal corridors and environmental durability.

One activist warned that the court's new definition could encourage mining, construction and commercial activity, increasing the risk of ecological damage.

Opposition parties have stepped up criticism, cautioning that the new definition might lead to significant environmental degradation.

One political leader declared that protecting the Aravallis is "fundamentally linked to Delhi's survival." Another leader called the range the state's "life-support system," adding that without it, "the entire area up to Delhi would have become a desert."

What Does the Government Say?

India's federal government has attempted to minimize 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 needed to regulate mining consistently across states.

It added that the new definition covers the entire hill system – including slopes, associated landforms, and intervening areas – clearly safeguarding hill clusters and their linkages.

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

The government says 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 noted that mining remains prohibited in core "inviolate" areas – protected forests, environmentally fragile zones, and wetlands – except for certain essential, national security, and nuclear minerals permitted by law.

The minister responsible for ecology said only about 2% of the vast Aravalli range could potentially be mined, and only after comprehensive assessments and official approval.

However, several of the demonstrating organizations say that demonstrations will continue and that they are exploring judicial avenues to contest the court's new definition.