Aravalli definition row: A year of landmark rulings

The Aravallis, Haryana’s oldest mountain range and the largest forest patch, entered 2025 facing one of its most defining crises yet. This fragile ecosystem, which forms the green lung for the National Capital Region (NCR), was caught in a relentless battle between conservation efforts and development pressures. The year saw the Aravallis’ future hang in the balance, with conflicting forces vying for control over its destiny.

The year began with a shocking sight — illegal miners blasting entire hillsides, leaving behind a trail of environmental devastation. As Haryana and Rajasthan initially clashed over jurisdiction, both states took action: FIRs were filed and local officials were suspended. But these incidents were just part of a larger ongoing battle involving illegal mining, rampant tree felling and encroaching concrete developments.

However, the year’s most significant development came in the form of a Supreme Court ruling that could reshape the Aravallis’ future. In November, the Court approved a uniform definition for the Aravalli Hills, a landmark decision aimed at regulating mining activities in the region. The Court defined the Aravalli Hills as any landform with an elevation of 100 metres or more above local relief, while the Aravalli Range was defined as two or more such hills within 500 metres of each other.

In response to increasing environmental concerns, the Court also imposed an interim moratorium on new mining leases until a ‘Management Plan for Sustainable Mining’ (MPSM) is developed. While the government hailed the ruling as a clear, map-verifiable boundary for protecting the Aravallis — ensuring that 99.8% of the area remains preserved — environmentalists raised concerns. The new height-based definition excludes smaller hills and low-lying ridges, potentially breaking the ecological continuity of the range. Critics warn that this could open the door for real estate development and non-forest activities in these areas, despite government assurances that forest laws still apply.

This definition has sparked an ongoing debate, which has led the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance of the matter in December to further evaluate the concerns raised by various stakeholders.

On the development front, the Haryana Government’s ambitious plans for the Aravallis were a mix of hope and controversy. The much-discussed Aravalli Safari Park, a pet project of the BJP-led state government, was expected to revitalise the region’s conservation efforts. Originally envisioned under the Tourism Department, the project was transferred to the Forest Department in 2025. While it holds promise, the project has faced delays and growing concerns over its sustainability. Despite the shift, many question whether the project is truly equipped to address the pressing ecological challenges of the Aravallis.

In a rare ray of hope for the region, the Union Environment Minister launched a detailed action plan in May to restore the Aravalli landscape. This included the ambitious Aravalli Green Wall Initiative, aimed at creating a 5-km green buffer zone around the range in Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Delhi. The goal is to halt the encroaching desertification of the Thar Desert and protect the vital ecosystem of the Aravallis.

Looking ahead to 2026, the immediate future of the Aravallis will depend on the finalisation of the Sustainable Management Plan for Mining and the resolution of ongoing legal challenges. The Survey of India has been tasked with mapping the Aravallis based on the new Supreme Court criteria. As the region stands on the brink of irreversible change, it remains to be seen whether the Aravallis will be preserved as an ecological treasure or transformed by the forces of development.