Why India’s Aravalli Mountain Range matters: Interview with Anuradha P Dhawan

January 31, 2026

The Supreme Court of India accepted a controversial proposal in November 2025 to legally redefine the Aravalli Hills, limiting protection to only landforms rising at least 100 meters above local ground level. This decision has sparked widespread protests because the Aravalli range, stretching 670 kilometers across northwestern India, serves as a crucial ecological barrier preventing desert expansion, recharging groundwater, and moderating temperatures in an increasingly polluted region. Environmental activist Anuradha P Dhawan, co-founder of the Aravalli Bachao Citizens' Movement, argues this redefinition will expose most of the ancient mountain range to mining and real estate development, threatening communities dependent on its ecological services.

Who is affected

Residents of Delhi-NCR (National Capital Region), particularly Gurugram, and northern India
Communities dependent on the Aravallis for groundwater, clean air, and climate regulation
Members of the Aravalli Bachao Citizens' Movement, including co-founder Anuradha P Dhawan
Environmental activists facing intimidation and detention by authorities
A Deputy Superintendent of Police who was killed investigating illegal mining in Mewat
Newborns requiring lung specialists and senior citizens needing emergency care due to pollution
Sonam Wangchuk and the Save Ladakh campaign
Residents of 34-39 districts across four states where the Aravallis are located
Biodiversity and wildlife in the Aravalli range

What action is being taken

The Aravalli Bachao Citizens' Movement is conducting protests and rallies across India
Citizens are holding peaceful demonstrations at metro stations with placards
Movement members are working on issues ranging from the NCR 2041 draft plan to forest protection nationwide
Illegal mining continues in no-mining zones with blasting operations occurring early mornings
Tractors, trolleys, and camels are being used to transport illegally mined materials
The CID (Criminal Investigation Department) is making repeated calls, conducting home visits, and questioning activists
Police are detaining peaceful activists and protesters

Why it matters

The Aravalli range is critical to northern India's ecology as one of the world's oldest mountain systems, older than the Himalayas. It acts as a natural barrier against eastward spread of the Thar Desert, recharges groundwater aquifers, and moderates temperatures in a region increasingly affected by heatwaves and severe air pollution. The range forms the majority of forest cover in the Delhi-NCR region and sustains extraordinary biodiversity. The redefinition threatens to expose vast areas below the 100-meter threshold to mining and development, potentially dooming one of India's most polluted and water-stressed regions. The decision reflects a broader pattern of weakening environmental protections, with environmental clearance rejection rates reportedly dropping from 70-80% to just 10-15% after 2019 reforms, while cement production in the region has increased dramatically.

What's next

The Supreme Court has ordered a temporary pause on new mining leases in the area
The Aravalli Bachao Movement is demanding the Ministry publish an official list of the 39 Aravalli districts
Activists are calling for implementation of a functional toll-free number for reporting illegal mining
The movement is requesting drone surveillance to monitor mining hotspots
Legal cases filed by activists with video evidence of illegal mining continue through the court system with ongoing postponements

Read full article from source: Global Voices