Aravalli, the ecological “shield” or kavach of the Delhi–NCR region, plays a crucial role in controlling pollution and ensuring environmental security.

Supreme Court Defines Aravalli Hills and Range, Imposes Mining Restrictions

• SC Verdict: The Supreme Court recently accepted the definitions of the Aravalli Hills and Aravalli Range provided by a Central Government Committee.
• Definition of Aravalli Hills: Any land 100 meters or more above its surrounding local area.
  • Two or more hills located within a 500-meter radius of each other.
• Mining Restrictions: The Supreme Court banned new mining leases in Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat until the Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) is finalized by the Ministry of Environment. 
  • Mining remains entirely banned in ecologically sensitive areas, except in very rare, exceptional cases. 
  • Existing mining activities must comply strictly with the committee’s recommendations.

The Aravallis as a Shield

• Oldest Fold Mountain: The Aravallis are one of the world’s oldest fold mountains, running through Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi.
• Function: The Aravallis act as a geographical barrier, separating the fertile Delhi NCR region (East) from the Thar Desert (West).
• Prevention of Desertification: Without this wall, the sand from the Thar Desert would blow into Delhi, leading to desertification.
• Ecological Role: The hills are crucial water recharge zones and serve as wind barriers that stop dust storms from reaching Delhi.

Timeline of Destruction

• 1991 – Peak Mining: Builders aggressively monetised the Aravalli by selling “hill homes,” leading to extensive ecological damage.
• 1992 – Faridabad Exempt: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change banned mining in Gurgaon and Alwar, but Faridabad was exempted due to lobbying pressure.
• 2002 – Supreme Court Intervention: The Supreme Court imposed a total mining ban, emphasising: “Save the hill, ignore the definition.”
• Bypassing Restrictions: In the past, builders and the mining mafia used three technical excuses to bypass the Supreme Court restrictions: 
  • Revenue Records: Claiming the mountains were not listed as Aravalli in revenue records, 
  • The Height Excuse: Using the height criteria (under 100 meters), and 
  • Geological Age Dispute: Claims that the mountains are younger than 500 million years, suggesting arbitrary timelines were used to exclude certain areas.

The 100-Meter Rule

• Impact of the Definition: If the 100-meter rule is implemented, a hill 1 meter less than 100 meters (e.g., 99 meters) would lose protection and be open to mining or construction.
• Shocking Consequences: This definition would cause 90% of the Aravalli Hills in Haryana, and 1 lakh small hills (some under 20 meters high) in Rajasthan, to lose protection.

Scientific Debate- Slope Vs Height

• Scientific Argument (FSI): The Forest Survey of India (FSI) stated that the height criterion should not be used. 
  • FSI advocated for a slope criterion (a slope of more than 3 degrees), arguing that nature does not define mountains by height, and even small hills are vital for holding biodiversity and recharging water.
• Government Counter: The government rejected the slope criteria, claiming it would impede development by bringing too much area under protection. 
  • The FSI countered that adopting the 100-meter rule would lead to enormous destruction.

The Broken Shield Effect

• Breaking the Shield: Destroying smaller hills creates gaps in the continuous Aravalli wall. 
  • Through these gaps, dust from Rajasthan will directly enter the NCR, increasing Particulate Matter (PM 2.5 and PM 10), exacerbating Delhi’s pollution crisis and creating an ecological disaster.
• Hypocrisy: The Central Government is simultaneously promoting the “Aravallis Green Wall Project” while defining the existing wall of mountains in a way that allows it to be broken.
• Regulatory Capture: Regulatory Capture happens when a regulatory agency, created to act in the public interest, instead advances the commercial or political concerns of special interest groups.
  • By setting an arbitrary 100-meter line and sidelining the scientific recommendations of the FSI, leads to mockery of academic independence.

The Gair Mumkin Pahar Issue

• About the Term:  “Gair Mumkin Pahar” refers to land historically classified as uncultivable due to its hilly, rocky nature.
• Historical Status:  In the 1992 Notification and 2017 NCR Plan, these lands were rightfully treated as protected Aravallis.
• Current Threat:  The new definition ignores this classification to free up this land for real estate development.

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Way Forward

• Ecological Integrity: Nature should be defined based on slope and vegetation, not height. 
• Scientific Backing: Transparency and listening to scientific bodies are essential.
• Sustainability:  Development should not come at the cost of our shield.

Conclusion

As Mahatma Gandhi reminds us, “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.” The protection of the Aravallis must be guided by this principle, ensuring ecological limits are respected over exploitative interests.

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