Aravalli Hills Controversy

The Union Environment Ministry has faced protests and criticism over a new definition of the Aravalli Hills. The Ministry, however, maintains there is no imminent threat to the Aravalli ecology and asserts that the hills remain under robust protection. Notably, mining would be permissible in only 0.19% of Aravalli's total expanse of 1.44 lakh sq km.

New Definition of Aravalli Hills

• The new definition, proposed by a committee led by the Environment Secretary and approved by the Supreme Court, considers any landform at an elevation of 100 metres or more above the local relief as part of the Aravalli Hills.
• This benchmark uses local relief as a measurement base rather than a standardized baseline like a state's lowest elevation.
• As a result, a significant portion of the Aravalli range may not be counted as Aravalli anymore.

Government Stance and Protection Measures

• No new mining leases will be allowed until a detailed study is conducted, as per a November 20 order.
• Protected areas include tiger reserves, national parks, sanctuaries, eco-sensitive zones, wetlands, and plantations, which remain out of bounds for mining or development unless specifically permitted under relevant wildlife and forest Acts.
• These protections are not necessarily permanent, as seen in attempts to "rationalise" boundaries of reserves like Sariska.

Implications of the New Definition

• Large tracts identified as part of the Aravalli range under the Forest Survey of India's (FSI) 3-degree slope formula will be excluded.
• Rajasthan, which accounts for nearly two-thirds of the Aravalli range, will see substantial parts not counted under the new definition.
• Several districts, including Sawai Madhopur and Chhitorgarh, have been dropped from the list of 34 Aravalli districts.

Environmental and Legal Concerns

• The new parameters exclude 99.12% of the 1,18,575 Aravalli hills identified by the FSI in Rajasthan's 15 districts.
• The Ministry argues that the new 100-metre definition will encompass a larger area than the FSI's 3-degree formula, noting that the average slope in 12 of 34 districts is under 3 degrees.
• However, using local profiles for elevation measurement may exclude many hills from the Aravalli definition due to surrounding high-elevation areas.

Inclusion vs Exclusion Debate

• Concerns remain over illegal mining and the environmental impact of future mining in areas excluded under the 100-metre definition.
• The 100-metre definition could unlock large areas in Delhi NCR for real estate development.
• The Ministry's committee acknowledged the risk of inclusion errors if slope is the sole criterion for boundary demarcation, emphasizing the need to avoid inclusion mistakes.

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