Aravalli Hills Controversy: Why is there anger among environmentalists? How will country's climate be affected?
Aravalli Hills Controversy: The existence of the Aravalli range, India's oldest mountain range, is under threat. The Supreme Court has accepted a new definition that only considers hills taller than 100 meters as part of the Aravalli range, sparking outrage among environmentalists and politicians. There are fears that this will give free rein to mining mafias.
The Supreme Court has approved a new legal definition of the Aravalli range proposed by a central committee. According to this new standard, only those hills with a height of at least 100 meters above ground level will be considered part of the Aravalli range.
According to an internal report by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), only 1,048 out of the 12,081 hills mapped in 15 districts of Rajasthan meet this standard. This directly means that approximately 91.3% of the Aravalli range could now lose legal protection, paving the way for unchecked mining and construction.
A 'protective shield' for North India
The Aravalli range is not just a mountain range, but a 'protective shield' for North India. It is a natural barrier that prevents the Thar Desert from advancing towards Delhi-NCR, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh. This mountain range is the source of rivers like the Chambal, Sabarmati, and Luni, and recharges groundwater in arid states like Rajasthan. Experts believe that if these smaller hills disappear, the rainfall pattern in northwestern India will change, dust pollution will increase, and severe heat stress will be created.
Death warrant for the Aravalli range: Sonia
This decision has also intensified political controversy. Congress MP Sonia Gandhi has termed it a 'death warrant' for the Aravalli range. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that excluding 90% of the hills from the definition is like signing their 'death certificate'. Local residents and the NGO 'People for Aravalli' are also disappointed with this decision, as it will destroy wildlife habitats and increase human-animal conflict.
What SC has suggested?
The Supreme Court argues that a complete ban on mining encourages illegal mining and the sand mafia. Therefore, the court has suggested continuing mining with strict regulations, although granting new mining leases is currently on hold. Experts warn that if the Aravalli range is completely destroyed by 2060, the likelihood of earthquakes in cities like Delhi will increase and water sources will dry up.