Protests erupt in Gurugram, Udaipur over new Aravalli definition; activists warn of ecological damage
Gurugram/Udaipur: Environmental activists and local residents staged protests in parts of Haryana and Rajasthan on Saturday against a newly approved definition of the Aravalli hills, voicing fears that the move could weaken protection for one of India’s oldest mountain ranges and upset its fragile ecological balance.
In Gurugram, activists, members of social groups and residents gathered outside the residence of Haryana Cabinet minister Rao Narbir Singh to register their opposition. Holding placards and banners, the protesters raised slogans such as “Save Aravalli, Save the Future” and “No Aravalli, No Life,” urging authorities to reconsider the decision.
The demonstrators expressed concern over a Supreme Court order passed on November 20, 2025, which accepted recommendations of a committee formed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change regarding a new elevation-based definition of the Aravalli hills and ranges.
Under the revised criteria, an Aravalli hill is defined as any landform in notified Aravalli districts that rises 100 metres or more above the local terrain, while an Aravalli range is described as a cluster of two or more such hills located within 500 metres of each other.
Activists warned that the narrowed definition could open large tracts of the Aravalli region to mining, construction and commercial activities. “This decision may accelerate development projects at the cost of nature and seriously threaten the ecological balance and natural beauty of the Aravallis,” said one of the protesters.
They stressed that the Aravalli range acts as a crucial natural barrier for the Delhi-NCR region, helping curb air pollution, check desertification and address water scarcity. The protesters demanded that the mountain range be declared a fully protected zone, backed by a clear and stringent conservation policy.
“Development cannot come at the cost of nature. The survival of the Aravallis is directly linked to the future of coming generations, especially at a time when air toxicity is steadily increasing,” said Sanjiti, another protester.
Similar demonstrations were held in Rajasthan’s Udaipur, where a large group of lawyers took to the streets to oppose the new definition. Chanting slogans, they marched from the Udaipur court premises to the district collectorate and submitted a memorandum addressed to the President and the additional district magistrate.
The protesting lawyers said the long-term environmental security of Rajasthan and Udaipur depended on the protection of the Aravalli range. “The government must take immediate and concrete steps to ensure the conservation of the Aravallis,” said advocate Manish Sharma, who participated in the protest.
(with inputs from agencies)
