Jairam Ramesh Questions the Future of the Aravallis: A Crisis of Definition and Fragmentation

​The Aravalli range is not just a collection of rocks and trees; it is one of the oldest geological formations on Earth. Spanning four Indian states—Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi—it serves as a critical environmental shield for millions of people. However, a major controversy has erupted over how these hills are defined. In a move that has sparked widespread debate, senior Congress leader and former Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has officially questioned the Union Environment Minister, Bhupender Yadav, over a new "redefinition" of the Aravallis. Ramesh claims this shift is not a mere technicality but a dangerous move that will lead to the fragmentation and ecological destruction of the entire mountain range.

​The New Rule: 100 Meters of Concern

​The core of the dispute lies in a new height-based criterion. Under the current government's approach, a landform is only officially classified as an "Aravalli Hill" if it rises at least 100 meters above its surrounding terrain. Furthermore, an "Aravalli Range" is defined as a cluster of two or more such hills located within 500 meters of each other.

​Jairam Ramesh has raised four specific questions to the Environment Minister, challenging the logic of this measurement. He argues that by setting a 100-meter threshold, the government is effectively "deleting" thousands of smaller hills from protected status. According to data from the Forest Survey of India (FSI), only about 8.7% of Aravalli hills higher than 20 meters actually exceed the 100-meter mark. This means a staggering 90% of the hills could be stripped of their legal protection, making them vulnerable to mining and real estate development.

​Why Every Meter of the Aravallis Matters

​In his letter, Ramesh pointed out that the previous 2010 FSI definition was much more comprehensive. It included any area with a slope of three degrees or more as part of the hills. This older definition correctly recognized that the Aravallis are an interconnected system including flat areas, table-tops, depressions, and valleys.

​The smaller hill formations, even those as low as 10 to 30 meters, perform a vital task: they act as natural windbreaks. These modest elevations catch heavy sand particles carried by winds from the west, preventing the Thar Desert from creeping into the fertile plains of North India and the National Capital Region. Ramesh warns that excluding these smaller hills ignores scientific reality and invites desertification.

The Threat of Ecological Fragmentation

​One of Ramesh's primary accusations is that the new definition will cause "fragmentation." In ecology, fragmentation occurs when a continuous habitat is broken into smaller, isolated patches. This is disastrous for wildlife like leopards and hyenas that need large, connected areas to survive and roam.

​By protecting only the tallest peaks and leaving the lower areas open for exploitation, the government is essentially creating "islands" of nature. Ramesh argues that this undermines the geographical and ecological integrity of the range. You cannot protect a mountain range by only protecting its highest points; the entire landscape, including the low-lying ridges and foothills, functions together to recharge groundwater and sustain biodiversity.

​The "Game of Figures" in Mining

​Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has defended the move, stating that only 0.19% of the Aravalli area is currently under mining leases. However, Ramesh has labeled this a "game of figures." He explains that 0.19% of a massive landscape actually covers about 68,000 acres of land—a huge area by any standard.

​Furthermore, he argues that the denominator used by the government is misleading. By spreading that percentage over the entire landmass of 34 districts, the government underplays the actual pressure on the hilly regions themselves. If the 100-meter rule is applied, a much larger portion of the hills becomes "non-hill" land on paper, potentially opening the floodgates for unregulated mining activities that have already ravaged parts of Rajasthan and Haryana.

​A Threat to Water and Air Security

​For the residents of Delhi-NCR, the Aravallis are the only defense against the harsh environment of the desert. These hills act as the "green lungs" of the region, filtering air and regulating local temperatures. More importantly, they are the primary source of groundwater recharge.

The rocky, fractured terrain allows rainwater to seep deep into the earth. If these areas are opened for real estate or mining, the natural "sponge" effect is lost. Jairam Ramesh has emphasized that the Aravallis need restoration, not a "fatally flawed" redefinition. He warns that the impact on water security and air quality will be felt by millions of people for decades to come.

​The Legal Battle Ahead

​The debate has now reached the highest level of the judiciary. The Supreme Court of India is currently hearing a suo motu case on the definition of the Aravalli hills. While the court had previously accepted an operational definition for mining, the widespread outcry from environmentalists and political leaders like Ramesh has forced a deeper look into the consequences.

​Ramesh has noted that the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) and the court’s own advisors have expressed concerns that match his own. They have warned that discarding lower hills is akin to "ecological amputation." Science suggests that landscape-level protection is the only way to save the Aravallis, rather than arbitrary height-based cutoffs.

​Conclusion: A Choice for the Future

​The questions raised by Jairam Ramesh highlight a fundamental tension between administrative convenience and ecological survival. If we choose to define mountains only by their height, we lose the complex, interconnected web of life that exists in the foothills and valleys.

The Aravallis have protected India for millions of years. Now, they need protection from us. Whether the government listens to these concerns or proceeds with the redefinition will decide the fate of North India’s environment. As the Supreme Court continues its deliberations, the hope is for a solution that prioritizes long-term ecological health over short-term commercial gain. Protecting the Aravallis is not just about saving hills; it is about safeguarding the future of the people who live in their shadow.