Centre responds as 100-metre hill definition triggers mining fears in Aravallis: All you need to know
The statement comes in the wake of last month’s Supreme Court verdict, which adopted a uniform definition of the Aravalli Hills and Ranges to regulate mining in Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat and ordered a complete freeze on new mining leases until a sustainable mining plan at the landscape level is prepared.
What is the ‘Save Aravalli’ campaign?
The controversy erupted after concerns grew that defining the Aravalli Hills as landforms rising 100 meters above the local relief could leave many hills and ridges vulnerable. Environmental groups claim that the Aravalli mountain range is one of the world’s oldest mountain systems, shaped over billions of years, and that most of it no longer rises sharply above the surrounding land.
Critics fear that hills below the 100-metre threshold could be interpreted as falling outside of protection, potentially opening them up to mining and construction. Activists warn that such an outcome could undermine the Aravallis’ role as a natural barrier against desertification and worsen environmental risks for the Delhi-NCR region, including dust pollution, groundwater depletion and rising temperatures.
Does the new Aravalli definition allow mining below 100 metres?
Responding to these concerns, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Climate Change said it would be wrong to conclude that landforms below 100 meters are automatically suitable for mining. The definition by center preserves the entire hill landform, including its base, slopes and associated features, based on contour mapping rather than absolute elevation alone.
What are the Aravalli Hills and Ranges as per the New Rules?
According to the operational definition accepted by the court, any landform rising 100 meters or more above the local relief qualifies as Aravalli Hill. Importantly, protection extends beyond the peak to include all landform within the lowest surrounding contour, with supporting slopes and associated features, regardless of slope.
The Aravalli Range is defined as two or more hills located within 500 meters of each other, and the landforms, slopes and hillocks in between are also protected. This cluster-based approach preserves ecological connectivity and avoids piecemeal exploitation of foothills and valleys.
To remove ambiguity, the court mandated that all Aravalli hills and ranges should be clearly marked on the Survey of India supersheets before any mining decision is taken into consideration; This made enforcement objective, transparent and legally verifiable.
What did the Supreme Court say about Aravalli mining?
The Center cited the Supreme Court’s recent order dated November 20, 2025, which accepted the recommendations of the expert committee and imposed an interim moratorium on new mining permits across the Aravallis until a Mining Plan for Sustainable Mining is finalized by the Indian Council for Forestry Research and Training.
The court also upheld strict bans on mining in core and pristine areas, including protected forests, eco-sensitive zones, wetlands, tiger reserves and CAMPA plantations, while allowing only strictly regulated operations in existing mines.
Why are Aravalli Hills critical for Delhi-NCR?
The Aravalli range acts as a critical ecological shield, slowing the spread of the Thar Desert, helping to recharge groundwater and regulating air quality in northern India. Environmentalists say any weakening of this system could have cascading consequences for climate resilience in the region.
But the Center argued that the new framework strengthens enforcement, prevents illegal mining and ensures scientific, map-based identification of protected landforms. He rejected claims of ecological dilution, stating that ongoing reforestation, monitoring and the upcoming sustainable mining plan together ensure the long-term protection of the Aravallis.
