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

Demonstrations have broken out across the northern part of the country after the nation's top court redefined the Aravalli hills – among the planet's most ancient mountain ranges stretching across the states of Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, and Delhi.

As per the revised criteria, approved by the court following central government suggestions, an Aravalli hill is any landform with a minimum elevation of 100 metres (328 ft) above the surrounding terrain. A cluster of such hills within 500 metres of each other, along with the land between them, are deemed to be an Aravalli range.

Environmentalists argue that classifying Aravalli hills based on elevation risks leaving many lower, scrub-covered but vitally important hills vulnerable to mining and construction.

The federal government, however, states that the new definition is designed to tighten controls and establish consistency and not weaken safeguards.

Why are People Protesting?

This weekend, peaceful protests took place in cities including Gurugram and Udaipur, organized by community members, farmers, green activists, and, in some cases, lawyers and political parties.

A founder member of a prominent environmental group remarked that the new definition threatens to compromise the critical role of the Aravalli range in "preventing desertification, replenishing aquifers and safeguarding local economies" in the northwestern region.

The shorter, vegetated hills play a vital role in preventing desertification, recharging groundwater and sustaining communities as per experts.

"The Aravalli range should not be defined by height alone, but by its environmental, physical and weather-related purpose," said an ecology advocate involved in the movement to preserve the Aravallis.

He added that, internationally, mountain ranges are identified by the functions they perform, not by random height benchmarks.

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

Protesters are calling for that the government delineate Aravalli areas using research-based parameters, including topography, ecology, wildlife connectivity and environmental durability.

One activist warned that the court's new definition could encourage extractive industries, development and business projects, heightening the risk of ecological damage.

Opposition parties have ramped up their censure, warning that the new definition could cause serious ecological damage.

One political leader said 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, "a vast region up to Delhi would have become a desert."

Official Position

India's central government has attempted to minimize these concerns.

In a recent statement, it said the new definition is meant to strengthen regulation and bring uniformity, adding that a single, objective definition was required to regulate mining consistently across states.

It further stated that the new definition covers the whole mountainous region – including slopes, related features, and intervening areas – clearly safeguarding hill clusters and their connections.

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

The government states 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 prohibited in core "protected" areas – reserved woodlands, environmentally fragile zones, and wetlands – except for certain essential, national security, and nuclear minerals allowed by law.

The Environment Minister 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 protesting groups say that demonstrations will continue and that they are exploring judicial avenues to contest the court's new definition.