Amid Pollution Outrage, North India’s ‘Green Lungs’ — The Aravalli Range — Face Grave Threat

It now finds itself at the centre of national debate not because it has changed, but because of the way the government has chosen to define it — even as Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) have hogged the spotlight with Air Quality Index soaring to over 400.

The recent acceptance of the proposed definition of the Aravalli range by the Supreme Court has opened widespread tension and debate among environmentalists and administrations. Critics warn that implementing the new definition could destroy the entire ecosystem and decades of conservation in the area. 

Speaking to The Secretariat, Raju Rawat, an environmental activist who works with Save Aravalli Trust, said that the new definition violates the existing Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLP) 1900, which also applied on the state of Haryana, and says that any land that is in the form of a forest or looks like a forest should be protected and will be under protection. 

“This new definition has violated the PLP Act. After this, over 90 per cent area of the Aravalli hills will be out of the protection category. The government is trying to weaken the PLP Act so that later mining and other commercial activities can be started in the area. There are so many areas in Delhi-NCR where buildings and corporate offices have been established. This new definition will lead to an increase in such activities,” Rawat said. 

He said that the Trust will be planning to file a review petition in the coming days. 

“We are in touch with some lawyers, and we will be filing a review petition in the coming days, as this range also plays a very important role in groundwater recharge. Old and fractured rocks have natural cracks through which water percolates deep into forest soil, and vegetation acts like a sponge, holding water and increasing infiltration,” he added. 

“The removal of the Aravalli will cause an increase in desertification and drought. It acts as a barrier and protects us from dust storms and heat waves,” he said. 

The Aravalli hills are a major source of rainfall patterns and groundwater. They also slow down desertification while acting as green lungs for cities like Delhi, Jaipur, and Gurugram. These ancient hills are the habitat of wildlife, including tigers, hyenas, leopards, nilgai, and jungle cats.

Their value is not scenic but systemic, and if they are removed, the aquifers will dry fast, and heat will intensify.

What Is The Definition?

Under the new definition, any landform rising to at least 100 metres above the ground and two or more hills within 500 metres of each other, along with the land between them, will be considered as the Aravalli hills.

Administratively, this definition brings simplicity, as the primary challenge was the chaos about the definition, and this ambiguity became the ground for illegal and unregulated mining and construction in the area. 

Operators argued that if land was not officially classified as “Aravalli,” restrictions should not apply. 

However, the hills are not subject to measurement and do not confirm this threshold for the definition. 

It was earlier reported by several media outlets that the Internal Forest Survey of India (FSI) suggests that a 100-metre threshold excludes over 90% of the Aravalli system from the new definition. However, the FSI has clarified, "FSI categorically refutes claims in certain sections of the media that it has carried out any study saying that only 9% Aravalli is above 100 meters." 

Why The Aravalli Range Matters

Environmentalists and activists claim that it is not a collection of peaks that we call the Aravalli, but a connected ecosystem and geological system that holds utmost importance as it acts as a groundwater recharge zone, a wildlife corridor, and native vegetation belts.

Pollution, A National Emergency

Pollution is definitely a health hazard. But if not addressed urgently, it will start to impact India’s growth story. Recently, the Singapore High Commission issued a warning regarding air pollution in the national capital.

Posting the advisory on X, Singapore High Commissioner Simon Wong cited the restrictions imposed under Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) IV, including a ban on construction and demolition activities, and the Delhi government’s advisory to citizens to stay indoors, and said, “In this regard, the High Commission urges Singapore nationals in the Delhi National Capital Region to pay heed to this advice.”

GDP-Pollution Co-relation

Following the higher level of pollution in Delhi-NCR, several businesses, especially foreign firms, are quietly asking their employees to stay indoors, which in turn affects work and indirectly affects GDP.

The relation between GDP and pollution is a complex and two-way correlation. According to several studies, there is a direct and serious impact of air pollution on GDP growth and per capita income levels. Economic growth has historically driven increased pollution, while high pollution levels, in turn, significantly impede GDP growth.

How Did China Do It?

Over a decade ago, China was known for a high level of air pollution owing to economic expansion and vehicular emissions, ever since the country transitioned from bicycles to motor cars and other combustion engines, that lead to a high level of emissions in the air.

Despite the challenges, China has brought down their air pollution level up to 89%, which is serving as a model for other countries.

According to a UN report, China has implemented a “coal-to-gas” policy since 2005 and reduced coal combustion by nearly 11 million tonnes by 2017. High-efficiency terminal treatment facilities were continuously renovated, and ultralow emission standards were enforced during this period.

Government Assurances Amid Unease

The Central government, on the other hand, said that there is no threat to the Aravalli hills and they are protected. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said that strict monitoring of mining and urban activities ensures that the Aravalli continue to serve as a natural heritage. 

Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav has addressed the issue and said that only 0.19% of the range will allow mining, 90% of the area comes under the protection zone, and there will be no relaxations in this regard. 

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has also assured that the range will be protected and will not be harmed. “Aravalli is not just a mountain; it is our identity. I assure everyone that the Aravalli Valley is completely safe. It will not be tampered with,” he said.

Meanwhile, another environmentalist who has requested to stay anonymous said that if development is needed, then there are a lot of alternatives to that, so why is the government doing that at the cost of the natural ecosystem, which provides so much to the people and their wildlife? 

“The mountain cannot be measured from the surface, as it exists more beneath the surface than on the surface itself. It takes hundreds of years to build a natural ecosystem, and destroying it will cause havoc on the flora and fauna of the area. They also contribute to the rain patterns in Rajasthan. Moreover, there are cultural and traditional values connected to this range, and it will all be at risk,” the environmentalist said. 

Speaking on the government assurance, the environmentalist said that 60-70% of the politicians are involved in mining. “Why would they protect it if they are involved in the mining and the majority of their income is coming from this sector?” he said. 

This is not merely a dispute over metres and maps. It is about how modern governance interprets ancient landscapes. When definitions change, priorities follow. When priorities shift, ecosystems pay the price — often silently, and too late for correction.

The Aravalli have survived tectonic upheavals, climate shifts, and the passage of deep time. Their greatest challenge now may be administrative.