New Aravalli Definition: Supreme Court Ruling and Environmental Concerns

Aravalli Hills and the Risks of a Height-Based Legal Classification

The Aravalli Range , among the oldest mountain systems on Earth, stretches nearly 690 km from Gujarat through Rajasthan, Haryana, and into Delhi. Beyond their modest height, these ancient hills play a crucial role in groundwater recharge, climate regulation, biodiversity conservation, and checking the eastward spread of the Thar Desert . For millions in western and northwestern India, the Aravallis quietly sustain ecological and economic life.

Supreme Court-Endorsed Definition

Recently, the Supreme Court of India endorsed a uniform legal definition of the Aravalli hills to resolve long-standing disputes over mining and construction. Under this framework, land qualifies as part of the Aravalli system primarily if it rises at least 100 metres above the surrounding terrain . The objective is administrative clarity, enabling authorities to draw firm boundaries and reduce litigation over land-use permissions.

Environmental Concerns and Scientific Criticism

Environmental experts and conservationists have expressed serious concerns over this height-based criterion . They argue that the Aravalli system is not defined solely by elevation. Low ridges, valleys, and interconnected landforms , even when under 100 metres, are integral to the region’s hydrology, wildlife corridors, and dust and heat buffering capacity . Excluding these features could remove legal protection from ecologically sensitive areas.

Risks of Diluted Protection

Critics warn that the narrower definition may weaken environmental safeguards built through decades of court rulings and policy interventions. Areas earlier treated as part of the Aravalli ecosystem could be reclassified as non-Aravalli land, exposing them to mining, deforestation, and infrastructure expansion . Such outcomes may undermine sustainable development goals and long-term climate resilience.

Balancing Clarity and Ecology

Supporters of the ruling argue that clear standards reduce ambiguity and improve enforcement. However, the real impact will depend on whether future mapping and management plans integrate geomorphology, biodiversity, and groundwater science , rather than relying only on elevation metrics.

What to Note for Exams?

• Aravalli Range is among the oldest fold mountain systems in the world.

• It stretches about 690 km across western and northwestern India.

• The Supreme Court-backed definition uses a 100-metre elevation criterion .

• Aravallis play a key role in groundwater recharge and desertification control .