The Reason The Nation's Aravalli Mountain Range Have Become the Epicenter of Escalating Unrest.

Protests have erupted 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 spanning the states of Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, and Delhi.

According to the fresh parameters, accepted by the court based on central 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.

Ecologists assert that defining Aravalli hills by height potentially excludes many shorter, vegetation-clad but vitally important hills vulnerable to quarrying and development.

The central administration, on the other hand, maintains that the new definition is designed to enhance oversight and bring uniformity and not weaken protections.

Why are People Protesting?

This weekend, calm demonstrations occurred in cities including Gurugram and Udaipur, organized by local residents, farmers, green activists, and, in some cases, lawyers and political parties.

An organizing member of a prominent environmental group remarked that the new definition threatens to compromise the essential function of the Aravalli range in "halting desert expansion, recharging groundwater and safeguarding local economies" in northwest India.

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

"The Aravalli range should not be defined solely by elevation, but by its ecological, geological and climatic function," said an environmental activist associated with the movement to preserve the Aravallis.

He pointed out that, internationally, mountains and hill systems are classified by the roles they play, not by arbitrary elevation thresholds.

"Any landform that is geologically part of the Aravalli system and plays a critical role in ecology or preventing desertification must be acknowledged as a component of the system, regardless of its height."

Protesters are calling for that the government define Aravalli areas using research-based parameters, including topography, ecology, animal corridors and environmental durability.

A campaigner cautioned that the court's new definition could encourage extractive industries, development and business projects, increasing the threat of environmental harm.

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

A senior politician said that safeguarding the Aravallis is "inseparable from Delhi's survival." Another leader described the range the state's "lifeline," adding that without it, "the entire area up to Delhi would have turned into a desert."

Official Position

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 bring uniformity, adding that a clear, unambiguous definition was needed to oversee extraction uniformly across states.

It further stated that the new definition covers the whole mountainous region – incorporating slopes, related features, and connecting zones – explicitly protecting hill clusters and their linkages.

The national environment department clarified it is incorrect to assume that mining will be allowed 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 banned in core "inviolate" areas – reserved woodlands, eco-sensitive zones, and wetlands – aside from certain essential, national security, and nuclear minerals allowed by law.

The minister responsible for ecology indicated only about 2% of the vast Aravalli range might be open to extraction, and only after comprehensive assessments and official approval.

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