Environmentalists Allege Continued Mining in Charkhi Dadri; Cite Lack of CEC Action

Aravalli Protests: Activists Fear New SC Rule Will 'Irreversibly' Damage Fragile Ecosystem

Protests have erupted across North India following a Supreme Court ruling that redefines the Aravalli Hills, potentially leaving vast, ecologically critical areas unprotected. Environmentalists warn that weakening protections will have irreversible consequences, including increased pollution in Delhi NCR, accelerated groundwater depletion, and extreme heat. They argue that under the new definition, which protects only hills 100 metres or taller, 'the damage is irreversible'. While Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav insists the new definition is to strengthen regulation, this India Today ground report from Alwar, Rajasthan, by Sharad Kumar reveals a starkly different reality. The investigation shows how even before the new rule, illegal mining has flattened hills and gone hundreds of metres deep, questioning how making the rules more lenient will prevent further devastation.