Why the New Definition of the Aravalli Hills Has Triggered Protests Across North India
Introduction The Aravalli Hills, one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world , have once again become the focus of nationwide environmental concern following the Supreme Court’s acceptance of a revised definition proposed by a committee under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) . The revised definition has triggered protests across Gurugram, Udaipur, and other parts of Haryana and Rajasthan , with environmental activists, lawyers, and local residents warning that the move could seriously weaken ecological protections for the region. What Is the New Definition of the Aravalli Hills? As per the recommendations accepted by the Supreme Court, the Aravalli landscape is now defined as follows: Aravalli Hill : Any landform located in designated Aravalli districts with an elevation of 100 metres or more above local relief . Aravalli Range : A cluster of two or more such hills situated within 500 metres of each other . This definition introduces quantitati...