The Aravalli hills are shaken with the sound of machinery

When searching for insights on the ongoing challenges surrounding the Aravalli hills, many seek to understand the complex interplay between environmental conservation and local livelihoods.The region, spanning across Delhi, haryana, rajasthan, and Gujarat, faces persistent threats from illegal mining despite legal protections. This article delves into the socio-economic and ecological dimensions of the issue, highlighting recent legal developments, community struggles, and environmental concerns. Readers will gain a comprehensive view of why preserving the Aravallis is critical not only for biodiversity but also for sustaining the lives of millions dependent on this fragile ecosystem.

Past and Legal Context of Mining in the Aravalli Range

The Aravalli hills, one of the world’s oldest mountain ranges dating back over two billion years, stretch approximately 650 kilometers across four Indian states. Rich in minerals such as sandstone, limestone, marble, and metals like lead and copper, the hills have long been a target for mining activities. Since the 1990s, the Union government has intermittently imposed restrictions to curb quarrying, culminating in a landmark 2009 Supreme Court ban on mining in parts of Haryana, including Faridabad, Gurugram, and Nuh districts.

Despite these legal measures, illegal mining persists, driven by powerful local lobbies and weak enforcement.In November 2025, the Supreme Court of India upheld a controversial definition by an expert panel from the Ministry of Habitat, Forest, and Climate Change, which limited the classification of protected hills to those rising at least 100 meters above the surrounding terrain. This ruling threatened to exclude many smaller hillocks from protection, potentially opening them up to exploitation. following widespread protests,the Court stayed this order in late December 2025,reflecting the ongoing tension between development and conservation.

Impact on Local Communities and Livelihoods

The foothills of the Aravallis are home to communities largely dependent on agriculture and animal husbandry, especially in the Mewat region of Haryana. Classified by the Niti Aayog as one of India’s most backward districts, Nuh faces severe challenges due to declining water tables and erratic rainfall patterns exacerbated by mining and climate change.

Residents like Mohd. Habib and Rajuddin Meo emphasize how quarrying has devastated the hills, leaving barren landscapes devoid of vegetation and grazing grounds. This environmental degradation directly threatens the survival of over 100 villages in the area. Many locals, including women like Mufisa, have resorted to alternative livelihoods such as producing charcoal, despite government bans on coal use in urban areas to reduce pollution.

Communal tensions and safety concerns further restrict employment opportunities for the youth, forcing many into precarious and illegal mining work. Voices like Arshad highlight the dilemma faced by poor villagers who rely on small-scale stone cutting for subsistence, while others like rajiv Saini advocate for ending mining to encourage education and safer employment.

Environmental and Health Consequences of Mining activities

In Rajasthan, mining has left deep scars on the landscape, with pits as tall as multi-storey buildings and widespread dust pollution affecting thousands of residents. Villages such as Ajitpura Kalan and Lalawandi have witnessed prolonged protests against the environmental damage caused by cement factories and quarrying operations.

The region produces about 70% of India’s sandstone, but this economic activity comes at a high cost. The prevalence of silicosis and respiratory diseases is alarmingly high among mining communities, with dust levels sometimes reaching an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 800-double that of Delhi. Structural damage to homes from blasting and flooding of agricultural fields due to groundwater extraction further compound the hardships faced by villagers.

Environmentalists warn that if the new hill classification remains, only a fraction of the Aravalli hills in Rajasthan would retain protection, leaving the majority vulnerable to unchecked mining and habitat destruction.

Community Mobilization and Legal Advocacy for Conservation

In response to the escalating crisis, citizen groups like the Aravalli Virasat Jan Abhiyan have intensified their campaigns to safeguard the hills. they demand that the entire range be declared an ecologically sensitive zone and call for a comprehensive, independent study assessing the cumulative environmental and social impacts of mining, real estate development, and waste dumping across the four states.

Following the December 2025 Supreme Court stay, activists continue to organize protests, with participation from organizations such as the People’s Union for civil Liberties and prominent figures like Rajendra Singh, known as the ‘water man of India.’ These movements emphasize that sustainable mining is a misnomer and that the Aravallis require strict protection to preserve their ecological functions, including groundwater recharge and climate regulation.

Important Facts: Key Points to Remember

• The Aravalli hills extend about 650 km across Delhi,Haryana,Rajasthan,and Gujarat.
• The Supreme Court of India imposed a mining ban in 2009 on parts of Haryana including Faridabad, Gurugram, and Nuh.
• In November 2025, the Court upheld a definition limiting protected hills to those over 100 meters in height, later stayed in December 2025 after protests.
• Nuh district is classified by Niti Aayog as one of India’s most backward regions, with agriculture and cattle farming as primary livelihoods.
• Rajasthan accounts for 70% of India’s sandstone production and has over 1,000 mining leases in the aravallis.
• Mining activities have led to severe environmental degradation, including groundwater depletion, dust pollution, and loss of biodiversity.
• Health issues such as silicosis and respiratory diseases are prevalent in mining-affected communities.
• The Aravalli Virasat jan Abhiyan demands the entire range be declared an ecologically sensitive zone and calls for a comprehensive impact study.
• Local protests, including a 145-day strike in ajitpura Kalan, highlight community resistance to mining.
• Prominent environmentalists like Rajendra Singh and activists continue to advocate for the protection of the Aravallis.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the significance of the Aravalli hills? The Aravalli hills are one of the oldest mountain ranges globally, crucial for biodiversity, groundwater recharge, climate regulation, and acting as a natural barrier against desertification in the Delhi-NCR region.

Q: Why was mining banned in parts of the Aravallis? Mining was banned by the Supreme Court in 2009 to prevent environmental degradation, protect water resources, and preserve the ecological balance of the hills, which were being severely damaged by illegal quarrying.

Q: What was controversial about the 2025 Supreme Court order? The 2025 order defined protected hills as those rising at least 100 meters above local relief, potentially excluding many smaller hills from protection and allowing mining in those areas, which sparked widespread environmental concerns and protests.

Q: How does mining effect local communities in the Aravalli region? Mining leads to water scarcity, loss of agricultural land, health problems like silicosis, and economic hardship, forcing many locals into unsafe and illegal mining jobs or alternative low-income activities.

Q: What actions are being taken to protect the Aravallis? Citizen groups like the Aravalli Virasat Jan Abhiyan are campaigning for the entire range to be declared ecologically sensitive, demanding comprehensive impact assessments, and organizing protests to pressure authorities for stricter conservation measures.