Supreme Court ruling on Aravalli definition triggers huge protests in Rajasthan

Activists have demanded that the Aravalli range—spread across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi—be declared an Ecologically Critical Area and that the use of raw stone mined from the hills be stopped.Neelam Ahluwalia, founding member of People for Aravalli, said the recent court decision would leave more than 90 per cent of the range unprotected and vulnerable to mining.The situation is particularly alarming in Alwar district, where 31 of the 128 identified hills have reportedly been completely flattened due to mining. Environmental experts warn that excluding large parts of the Aravalli range from protection could further embolden mining mafias.Experts have also cautioned that extensive degradation of the Aravallis could alter regional rainfall patterns. Some warn that if the range is destroyed, monsoon moisture could shift westwards towards Pakistan, adversely affecting rainfall in Rajasthan.Nearly 80 per cent of the 700-kilometre-long Aravalli range passes through 27 districts of Rajasthan, forming the ecological backbone of eastern Rajasthan.Agriculture and farmers’ livelihoods in these regions depend heavily on the hills, as several seasonal rivers—including the Chambal, Banas, Sahibi, Sota, Katli, Kasavati, Gambhiri and Morel—originate from the Aravallis.



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