Supreme Court panel says Aravalli range cannot be defined by a single height rule
A Supreme Court-appointed committee told the court that the Aravalli mountains cannot be captured by a single elevation criterion and asked for an extension until February to finish its study.
The Supreme Court-ordered committee, formed to reassess the definition of the Aravalli mountain system after a ministry panel’s narrow height-based rule triggered protests, reported that the range’s varied terrain defies a single-criterion definition. It requested a deadline extension to February to complete detailed mapping, on-site inspections, expert reviews and consultations with affected parties. The 700-kilometre range stretches from Gujarat through Rajasthan to Delhi and Haryana, with its highest peak, Guru Shikhar, at 1,722 metres.
The panel cautioned that a limited definition could exclude connected hills, forests, aquifers and other critical habitats, worsening environmental degradation and increasing dust-storm vulnerability in the National Capital Region. It is evaluating an “Aravalli Ecosystem Landscape” framework that considers geography, ecology, geology, water systems, and socio-economic factors. The study also examines the impact of mining, quarrying, stone crushing and unregulated sand mining on the landscape and biodiversity.
Why it matters
The definition will shape protection measures for a major Indian mountain range and affect mining and environmental policies.
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