Why The Nation's Aravalli Hills Have Become the Epicenter of Growing Demonstrations.

Demonstrations have broken out 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 mountain ranges spanning the states of Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, and the capital territory.

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) above the surrounding terrain. Two or more such hills less than half a kilometre of each other, along with the land between them, are considered an Aravalli range.

Conservationists contend that classifying Aravalli hills based on elevation could leave numerous shorter, vegetation-clad but ecologically critical hills vulnerable to quarrying and development.

The central administration, on the other hand, says that the revised definition is intended to strengthen regulation and bring uniformity and not dilute safeguards.

The Roots of the Unrest

This weekend, calm demonstrations were held in cities such as Gurugram and Udaipur, led by community members, farmers, environmental activists, and, at times, lawyers and political parties.

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

The shorter, vegetated hills perform a crucial function in stopping desert creep, boosting water tables and sustaining communities according to experts.

"The Aravalli range must not be categorized by height alone, but by its environmental, physical and weather-related function," noted an environmental activist involved in the movement to save the Aravallis.

He said that, internationally, mountains and hill systems are classified by the roles they play, not by random height benchmarks.

"Any feature 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."

Protesters are calling for that the government define Aravalli areas using research-based parameters, including geography, biodiversity, animal corridors and climate resilience.

A campaigner cautioned that the court's new definition might promote mining, construction and commercial activity, increasing the threat of environmental harm.

Opposition parties have stepped up criticism, warning that the new definition could cause serious ecological damage.

A senior politician said that safeguarding 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 turned into a desert."

What Does the Government Say?

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

In a recent communication, it said the new definition is meant to strengthen regulation and bring uniformity, noting that a clear, unambiguous definition was needed to regulate mining uniformly across states.

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

The national environment department clarified it is wrong to assume that mining will be allowed 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 follow environmentally sound practices.

It noted that mining remains prohibited in core "protected" areas – reserved woodlands, eco-sensitive zones, and wetlands – aside from certain essential, national security, and nuclear minerals permitted by law.

The Environment Minister said only about 2% of the vast Aravalli range might be open to extraction, and only after comprehensive assessments and formal clearance.

Nevertheless, many of the protesting groups say that demonstrations will continue and that they are exploring legal options to contest the court's new definition.