A recent policy shift — now backed by the Supreme Court — has redefined what counts as an “Aravalli Hill,” only recognising landforms rising at least 100 metres above their local surroundings. Under this criterion, critics argue that over 90 per cent of the Aravalli range could lose legal protection, exposing vast stretches to expanded mining, construction and degradation. The Aravallis are one of the world’s oldest mountain systems, stretching from Gujarat through Rajasthan into Haryana and Delhi-NCR, and they play a critical role in blocking desertification, aiding groundwater recharge, supporting biodiversity and moderating weather extremes across northern India.

Environmentalists, water conservationists and political figures warn that excluding lower ridges and foothills — previously protected under broader ecological criteria — will fragment the landscape and weaken its ability to function as a natural shield. Many smaller hills, though modest in height, contribute to windbreaks, dust control and aquifer recharge. Losing protection for these features could increase dust storms, worsen air quality, lower groundwater tables and disrupt wildlife corridors in a region already stressed by pollution and climate pressures.

Calls for action now include legal challenges, public mobilisations and demands for a dedicated conservation framework for mountain ecosystems. Critics say that refining bureaucratic language at the expense of ecological complexity amounts to erasure of a heritage that sustains millions.