'Only 0.19% Region Eligible': Centre Rejects Aravallis Mining Fears As Oppn Raises Concerns

Last Updated:December 22, 2025, 17:01 IST

Sachin Pilot warns outdated reports threaten Aravalli hills, while Bhupender Yadav asserts protection. SC rulings and NCR environmental risks fuel the political and legal debate.

Sachin Pilot warns outdated reports threaten Aravalli hills, while Bhupender Yadav asserts protection. SC rulings and NCR environmental risks fuel the political and legal debate. (Pic: PTI)

A fresh political and legal debate has erupted over the protection of the Aravalli hills, with Congress leader Sachin Pilot warning that continued reliance on outdated assessments could lead to irreversible environmental damage across the National Capital Region (NCR).

Speaking to CNN-News18, Pilot said that by allowing existing Supreme Court guidelines to continue without updated ground assessments, authorities were effectively permitting the destruction of one of the world’s oldest mountain ranges.

“By allowing these guidelines to continue, you are allowing the oldest mountain ranges to be destroyed. They are using outdated reports," Pilot said, adding that the court’s decisions depend largely on the reports submitted by governments. “If the Aravalli is destroyed, the entire NCR region will be affected. Public outrage has to be answered."

He declared that he will hold a march in Jaipur on 26th December protesting the government’s decision on the mountain range.

Speaking to ANI Congress leader Pawan Khera said, “If the new order on the Aravallis is implemented, the ecological balance of this entire region, several states, or half of India will be destroyed."

“The Aravalli mountain range protects Delhi, Haryana, and the agriculture of this entire area from the sand coming from the Thar Desert. The Aravallis make a very significant contribution to maintaining this entire balance… If anyone even touches the Aravallis, they will be considered an enemy of this country, of this entire region," he added.

Government Pushback

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav rejected the allegations, insisting that the Aravalli hills remain protected and that misinformation was being spread for political reasons.

“The Supreme Court has already given its judgment on this matter," Yadav said. “Our government promotes a green Aravalli. Misinformation is being spread regarding the Aravalli hills."

He said that out of the total 1.44 lakh square kilometre area of the Aravalli range, mining eligibility applies to only 0.19 per cent of the region. “The Aravalli is protected and secure. Those who are lying, their lies will get exposed," Yadav added.

What the Supreme Court Said

The debate centres on a series of rulings and clarifications by the Supreme Court of India on mining and construction activity in the Aravalli Range.

In earlier landmark orders the apex court imposed strict restrictions on mining in ecologically sensitive parts of the Aravallis, particularly in Haryana and Rajasthan, citing environmental degradation and public health risks.

However, in subsequent years, the court allowed regulated activity in certain non-forest areas, relying on state government classifications, environmental impact assessments, and affidavits. Critics argue that these classifications are based on outdated surveys that fail to reflect current ecological damage, while governments maintain that mining is permitted only in limited, legally designated zones.

The court has consistently held that its decisions are guided by official records and reports placed before it, a point highlighted by Sachin Pilot in his remarks.

Why NCR Is at the Centre of the Debate

Environmentalists warn that further degradation of the Aravallis could worsen air pollution, water scarcity, and heat extremes across the National Capital Region (NCR), which already faces severe environmental stress.

While the Centre maintains that the hills are adequately protected under existing legal frameworks, opposition leaders and activists are demanding updated scientific studies and stricter enforcement to prevent irreversible damage.

As the political sparring intensifies, the issue once again places the Aravalli hills at the crossroads of development, environmental protection, and judicial oversight.

The Aravalli range plays a critical ecological role in preventing desertification, regulating groundwater recharge, and acting as a natural barrier against dust storms from the Thar Desert, particularly for Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and western Uttar Pradesh.

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