Aravalli Hills Crisis: Supreme Court to Mediate Amid Nationwide Protests Over Mining Ban
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The Supreme Court is set to intervene in a contentious issue surrounding the Aravalli Hills, following a recent ruling that sparked widespread protests across India. On November 20, the court accepted a uniform definition of the Aravalli hills and ranges, effectively banning new mining leases within its designated areas spanning Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. The definition, proposed by a committee of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, identifies an 'Aravalli Hill' as any landform with an elevation of 100 meters or more above its local relief, and an 'Aravalli Range' as a collection of two or more such hills within 500 meters of each other. Environmental activists and opposition members expressed concerns that the ruling could harm the ecological balance of the region, as it would allow mining in areas with hills below 100 meters. Thousands of protesters, including students, lawyers, and social activists, took to the streets in Gurugram and parts of Rajasthan, holding banners that read 'Save Aravalli, Save the Future' and 'No Aravalli, No Life.' The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the issue and will hear the matter on Monday, with a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice JK Maheshwari, and Justice Augustine George Masih.
