The Reason The Nation's Aravalli Mountain Range Are at the Centre of Escalating Protests.

Unrest has flared across the northern part of the country after the nation's top court redefined the Aravalli hills – among the planet's most ancient geological formations spanning the states of Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, and Delhi.

Under the new definition, approved by the court following federal government suggestions, an Aravalli hill is any landform rising at least 100 metres (328 ft) from the adjacent land. Two or more such hills less than half a kilometre of each other, along with the land between them, are classified as an Aravalli range.

Conservationists contend that classifying Aravalli hills based on elevation could leave many shorter, vegetation-clad but vitally important hills vulnerable to quarrying and development.

The central administration, however, states that the revised definition is intended to tighten controls and establish consistency and not dilute protections.

What is Sparking the Demonstrations?

This weekend, peaceful protests took place in cities such as Gurugram and Udaipur, organized by community members, farmers, green activists, and, at times, lawyers and political groups.

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

The lower, scrub-covered hills perform a crucial function in preventing desertification, boosting water tables and sustaining communities according to experts.

"This mountain system should not be defined solely by elevation, but by its environmental, physical and weather-related function," noted an environmental activist associated with the movement to preserve the Aravallis.

He said that, globally, mountains and hill systems are identified by the functions they perform, not by random height benchmarks.

"Any feature that is structurally a component of the Aravalli system and plays a critical role in ecology or combating desertification should be recognised as a component of the system, regardless of its height."

Activists are demanding that the government define Aravalli areas using scientific criteria, including geography, ecology, animal corridors and climate resilience.

A campaigner cautioned that the court's new definition might promote mining, construction and commercial activity, heightening the threat of ecological damage.

Political opponents have stepped up criticism, warning that the new definition might lead to serious ecological damage.

A senior politician declared that safeguarding 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 central government has sought to downplay these concerns.

In a recent communication, it asserted the new definition is intended to bolster governance and create standardization, adding that a single, objective definition was required to regulate mining consistently across states.

It further stated that the new definition encompasses the entire hill system – including slopes, related features, and connecting zones – clearly safeguarding hill clusters and their linkages.

The national environment department said it is incorrect to presume 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 current operations can continue if they adhere to environmentally sound practices.

It noted that mining remains banned in core "protected" areas – reserved woodlands, eco-sensitive zones, and wetlands – except for certain critical, strategic, and atomic minerals permitted by law.

The minister responsible for ecology indicated only about two percent of the vast Aravalli range might be open to extraction, and only after comprehensive assessments and formal clearance.

Nevertheless, many of the protesting groups contend that demonstrations will continue and that they are exploring judicial avenues to contest the court's new definition.