Formed nearly two billion years ago, the Aravallis stretch for about 650 kilometres from Delhi to Gujarat and serve as a vital ecological barrier between the Thar Desert and the fertile Indo-Gangetic plains. Environmental experts have long warned that the gradual destruction of these hills could accelerate desertification, allowing arid conditions to spread eastwards into Haryana, Rajasthan and western Uttar Pradesh. Beyond acting as a natural shield against desert expansion, the range plays a crucial role in stabilising regional climate patterns, sustaining biodiversity and replenishing groundwater reserves.
The hills are also a lifeline for several river systems, acting as catchment areas and recharge zones for rivers such as the Chambal, Sabarmati and Luni. Over centuries, the Aravallis have supported dense forest cover, wildlife habitats and traditional water systems that sustain millions of people across north-western India. However, their rich geological composition—sandstone, limestone, marble, granite and valuable minerals including lead, zinc, copper, gold and tungsten—has made them a prime target for mining.
While regulated mining has historically taken place in the region, the past four decades have seen extensive quarrying for stone and sand, much of it unscientific and, in several instances, illegal. This unchecked extraction has been linked to severe environmental consequences, including falling groundwater levels, loss of forest cover and worsening air quality in nearby urban and rural areas. The cumulative impact has raised alarms among conservationists and policymakers alike.
The Supreme Court’s intervention follows concerns raised by the Central Empowered Committee, which had examined the extent of mining and environmental damage in the Aravalli region. One of the long-standing challenges in enforcing protections was the absence of a uniform and legally accepted definition of what constitutes the Aravalli hills. Differing interpretations across states allowed mining and construction activities to continue in ecologically sensitive zones. By settling on a standard definition, the court aimed to close these loopholes and ensure consistent regulatory oversight.
In its order, the court also underlined India’s international obligations under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, which requires signatory countries to safeguard vulnerable ecosystems and prevent land degradation. The judges clarified that while the current order pauses fresh mining leases within the defined Aravalli areas, it does not amount to an absolute or permanent ban on all mining activities. Existing leases and future decisions will still be subject to environmental laws, regulatory scrutiny and further judicial review.
The ruling is being seen as a critical step toward balancing economic activity with environmental preservation in one of India’s most threatened natural landscapes. As pressures from urban expansion, infrastructure projects and resource extraction continue to mount, the court’s decision reinforces the principle that ecological security is inseparable from long-term economic and social stability. For the Aravallis, often described as the last natural defence against advancing desertification, the order could mark a turning point in the fight to preserve a mountain range that has shaped the subcontinent’s geography for millennia.
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