Aravalli range faces annihilation as Supreme Court ruling shakes India’s environmental core!

Supreme Court’s New Aravalli Definition Sparks Alarm: Over 90% of Hills Left Vulnerable to Mining.

On November 20, 2025, the Supreme Court of India adopted a new uniform definition for the Aravalli range, ruling that only hills with a relative relief of 100 metres or more qualify as “Aravalli Hills.” According to the Forest Survey of India, of the 12,081 hill formations in the region, only 1,048 (8.7%) meet this threshold, leaving over 90% of the Aravallis—mostly low-lying ridges, scrub forests, and hillocks—without legal protection, making them vulnerable to mining and real estate development.

Experts warn that the ecological consequences could be catastrophic: hundreds of medicinal plants, including the valuable Harjor (Cissus quadrangularis) used for bone healing, may vanish, affecting local communities and traditional healers; wildlife corridors connecting Sariska Tiger Reserve and Asola Bhatti Sanctuary will be fragmented, threatening species like nilgai, golden jackal, and leopards, and increasing human-wildlife conflict.

The removal of smaller hills could also create gaps in the natural windbreak, allowing Thar Desert dust storms to sweep into Delhi-NCR and causing severe groundwater depletion, as low-elevation ridges are crucial for water recharge. While the Centre has imposed a temporary freeze on new mining leases pending a “Management Plan for Sustainable Mining” by ICFRE, conservationists warn that once the 100-metre map is finalized, the majority of these hills—and their biodiversity—could be lost forever.