The Reason India's Aravalli Hills Are at the Centre of Growing Unrest.

Demonstrations have broken out across northern India after the Supreme Court redefined the Aravalli hills – one of the world's oldest mountain ranges stretching across the states of Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, and the capital territory.

Under the new definition, 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) above the adjacent land. Two or more such hills within 500 metres of each other, combined with the land between them, are considered an Aravalli range.

Environmentalists argue that classifying Aravalli hills based on elevation could leave numerous lower, scrub-covered but ecologically critical hills unprotected from quarrying and development.

The central administration, however, states that the new definition is designed to enhance oversight and establish consistency and not dilute protections.

What is Sparking the Demonstrations?

Over the past few days, peaceful protests occurred in cities including Gurugram and Udaipur, led by community members, farmers, environmental activists, and, at times, lawyers and political groups.

A founder member of a key conservation collective stated that the new definition threatens to compromise the critical role of the Aravalli range in "halting desert expansion, recharging groundwater and protecting livelihoods" in northwest India.

The lower, scrub-covered hills play a vital role in preventing desertification, recharging groundwater and supporting livelihoods as per experts.

"The Aravalli range should not be defined by height alone, but by its ecological, geological and climatic role," noted an ecology advocate associated with the campaign to save the Aravallis.

He pointed out that, internationally, mountains and hill systems are identified by the functions they perform, not by arbitrary elevation thresholds.

"Any feature 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, biodiversity, wildlife connectivity and environmental durability.

One activist warned that the court's new definition might promote extractive industries, development and business projects, heightening the threat of environmental harm.

Political opponents have stepped up criticism, warning 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 "lifeline," adding that without it, "a vast region up to Delhi would have become a desert."

What Does the Government Say?

India's federal government has attempted to minimize these apprehensions.

In a recent communication, it asserted the new definition is intended to strengthen regulation and bring uniformity, noting that a single, objective definition was needed to regulate mining consistently across states.

It further stated that the new definition encompasses the entire hill system – incorporating slopes, associated landforms, and intervening areas – explicitly protecting hill clusters and their linkages.

The federal environment ministry said it is wrong to assume that mining will be permitted on all landforms under 100 metres.

The government says areas inside the Aravalli hills or ranges are excluded from new mining leases, while existing ones can continue if they follow sustainable mining norms.

It added that mining remains prohibited in core "protected" areas – reserved woodlands, environmentally fragile zones, and wetlands – except for certain critical, strategic, and atomic minerals permitted by law.

The minister responsible for ecology indicated only about 2% of the 147,000 sqkm Aravalli range might be open to extraction, and only after detailed studies and formal clearance.

However, several of the protesting groups say that protests will persist and that they are considering judicial avenues to challenge the court's new definition.