Supreme Court Interventions: Safeguarding the Aravalli Range

The Aravalli range is under intense ecological stress from decades of quarrying and urban expansion. Protecting it now hinges on how India mines, maps and manages this ancient mountain system.

Why the Aravallis matter

The Aravallis are nearly two billion years old. They are India’s oldest mountain range. These mountains stretch for about 650 km from Delhi to Gujarat. They act as a crucial barrier that slows the eastward spread of the Thar Desert. This helps protect the Indo‑Gangetic plains and parts of Haryana, Rajasthan, and western Uttar Pradesh from desertification. These hills moderate the local climate. They host rich biodiversity. The hills recharge aquifers that feed rivers such as the Chambal, Sabarmati, and Luni. At the same time, they contain valuable minerals and building stone. This has led to extensive, often unregulated mining. Consequently, forests, air quality, and groundwater are degraded.

What triggered the latest Supreme Court intervention

From the 1990s, central rules allowed mining only in sanctioned projects, but violations were rampant. In 2009, the Supreme Court imposed a blanket mining ban in parts of Haryana. These areas included Faridabad, Gurugram, and Mewat. This decision came after finding severe ecological damage. In May 2024, the Court was concerned that destructive quarrying was continuing across the range. It halted all fresh leases and renewals in the Aravalli areas of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. It asked a Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to study the issue and recommend safeguards. The committee then provided a detailed report in March 2024. The Court issued a final order in November 2025.

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What the Central Empowered Committee recommended

The CEC said piecemeal controls would not save the range and proposed a comprehensive framework. It called for scientific mapping of the entire Aravalli system across states and a macro‑level environmental impact assessment of mining. It recommended a strict no‑mining regime in ecologically sensitive areas. These include protected forests and wildlife habitats, water bodies, tiger corridors, and key aquifer‑recharge zones. It also covers areas within the National Capital Region and also sought tight regulation of stone‑crushing units. It insisted that no new leases or renewals be granted until mapping and assessments were complete.

Why a uniform definition of ‘Aravalli hills’ was needed

States and agencies were using different criteria to decide what counted as the Aravallis, leaving loopholes that miners could exploit. Earlier, the Forest Survey of India relied on a technical formula. This formula was based on slope, valley width and foothill buffers. It often led to disputes on the ground. The Supreme Court took action. It established a multi-agency committee. This included the Environment Ministry, FSI, state forest departments, Geological Survey of India and the CEC. Their task was to craft a single, science-based definition. In October 2025, the committee made a suggestion. It recommended treating all formations above 100 metres in height in the region as Aravalli hills and ranges. Despite concerns that this might still leave some smaller hills exposed, the Court accepted the 100‑metre threshold as clearer. This was more inclusive than previous criteria.

Has mining been completely banned?

Mining has not been totally banned across the Aravallis. Existing legal operations can continue under tighter scrutiny. However, no new mining leases or renewals are allowed. This restriction is in place until a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining is prepared. This plan must identify areas where mining will be permanently prohibited. It should define zones where only limited, tightly regulated extraction may occur. The plan must also map wildlife corridors and sensitive habitats. Additionally, it should lay down restoration and rehabilitation measures. The Court reasoned that blanket bans in the past fuelled illegal mining and sand mafias. A calibrated, science‑driven regime is more likely to protect the range. It will also curb unlawful activity.

What else is being done to protect the range

The Centre has launched the Aravalli “Green Wall” initiative. This initiative aims to expand green cover in a five-kilometre buffer around the hills. It spans across several districts in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi. The project is tied to India’s goal of restoring 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030. It also helps fulfill obligations under the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. Stricter controls on mining are one main pillar of India’s strategy. Scientific mapping is another. Landscape-scale afforestation also plays a critical role. These strategies aim to safeguard the Aravalli range and shield the Indo-Gangetic plains from advancing desert conditions.

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