Supreme Court Extends Deadline for Aravalis Definition as Committee Calls for Multi-Facet Approach
The Supreme Court granted the high-powered committee until Feb 27 to complete its Aravalis definition, saying a single height-based rule cannot capture the range’s complexity.
A Supreme Court-appointed high-powered committee has requested an extension to Feb 27 to finalize its definition of the Aravalis, arguing that no single height or terrain metric can adequately describe the range. The committee was created after a ministry panel’s elevation-based definition sparked protests, especially in Rajasthan, leading the court to stay that ruling and set up the new panel in May. Its latest report cites the need for geospatial mapping, on-ground validation, expert review and extensive stakeholder input before recommendations can be made.
The group plans to adopt an "Aravali Ecosystem Landscape" framework that considers geology, hydrology, biodiversity, cultural sites and more, rather than treating the range as isolated hills. Field work in early August reinforced the view that the Aravalis function as a connected landscape with intertwined ecological and socio-cultural values. The committee is also examining how mining, quarrying and sand extraction affect drainage, water systems and biodiversity, having received 680 representations from farmers, communities, industry and NGOs. Former forest conservator RP Balwan argued that the range’s tectonic origin makes height-based definitions irrelevant, urging recognition of the Aravalis as a single ecosystem.
