Overview
- The MoEFCC committee’s November 2025 criteria define an Aravalli hill as rising at least 100 metres above surrounding terrain, with clusters within 500 metres forming a range.
- Government officials maintain the change affects about 0.19% of the region and say it delivers legal clarity that limits mining.
- The We Are Aravalli collective reports 31.8% of the range falls below 100 metres based on a FABDEM satellite analysis and has released open maps and code for verification.
- The Supreme Court has halted implementation of the expert panel’s recommendations and listed the case for hearing on January 21.
- Activists warn that removing protections for low ridges could weaken groundwater recharge, hasten desertification, and worsen Delhi-NCR pollution, and they seek a full mining ban with lease cancellations.