The Aravalli Ranges are among the oldest mountain ranges of India, running for over 650 kilometres (about 400 miles) from Delhi across Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. These ranges have ecological significance as they sustain life, water, and climate.
However, the recent acceptance of the new definition of the Aravalli by the Supreme Court has sparked nationwide outrage and concerns regarding the protection of the landforms.
As per the recent definition accepted in November 2025, by the bench of judges comprising the former Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, along with Justices N.V. Anjaria and K. Vinod Chandran, an Aravalli Hill comprises any landform with a height of 100 metres or above the terrain surrounding it.
It further states that an Aravalli range is formed only if two such landforms lie within 500 metres of each other.
This definition has been met with debates and several protests by youth who believe that excluding the landforms based on height means excluding their ecological significance, thus making the excluded area prone to exploitation.
If the Supreme Court and the government do not act to protect the Aravallis, the consequences could be dire. Below are 10 major risks that can occur:
Severe Water Shortages
The Aravalli acts as a natural water reserve for several parts of the country, allowing rainwater to seep through it and recharge the aquifers. Water is further supplied through these aquifers to cities like Delhi, Gurugram, Rajasthan, and others.
If the Aravalli is allowed to die, the groundwater recharge will go down, and many cities will face acute water shortages.
Degradation Of Soil And Desertification
As per the Centre’s document, the Aravallis “prevent desertification by maintaining the natural barrier against the Thar Desert” and “safeguard groundwater recharge zones in foothills and valleys.” Since these ranges act as a natural shield, without them, many regions will be prone to desertification.
Regulation Of Climate
The Aravallis are significant for their contribution to the climate of the northwestern part of the country. These ranges help regulate rainfall by acting as a barrier against monsoon-causing winds.
Vikrant Tongad, an environmental activist, told the BBC, “The Aravalli range should not be defined by height alone, but by its ecological, geological and climatic role.”
He further added, “Any landform that is geologically part of the Aravalli system and plays a critical role in ecology or preventing desertification should be recognised as part of the range, regardless of its height.”
A Spike In Air Pollution
The Aravallis act as a barrier preventing the transportation of dust along with the pattern of wind. If left to die, the absence of these landforms could increase the movement of dust towards the national capital, which is already weighed down by extreme pollution.
Environmentalist Bharati Charturvedi told PTI, “This decision needs serious reconsideration because, in fact, it will render Delhi completely unliveable. No amount of plantations within the city can substitute for the Aravallis.”
Read More: Citizens Not Government Is Responsible For Pollution, Traffic And Garbage
Loss Of Biodiversity And Natural Habitat
The Aravallis act as a natural habitat for wildlife, and their absence would cost more than just one loss.
Harjeet Singh, founding director of Satat Sampada Climate Foundation, told PTI, “This isn’t just the loss of biodiversity or a geological wonder, it also severs the region’s critical recharge zone, guaranteeing harsher dust storms, plummeting groundwater, and a lethal spike in air pollution for a million.”
Increase In Human-Wildlife Conflict
The Aravallis are home to multiple endangered species, like leopards, hyenas, honey badgers, and others. With the new definition excluding vast areas of the landform, the natural habitat of these creatures will be hindered, leading to an increase in human-wildlife conflict.
Decline Of Rivers Originating Here
The Aravalli hosts rivers like the Sabarmati and Banas, and the degradation of these landforms will lead to the disruption of these natural water bodies.
Under ideal conditions, the recharge rates here are about 2 million litres per hectare yearly. Seasonal rivers depend on this recharge. The loss of the Aravallis will result in the drying up of these water bodies.
Economic Consequences And Overexploitation
The Aravalli is a hub of fuelwood, fodder, medicinal plants, and other resources for the local people and those belonging to the rural regions.
Further, as per the report by the technical committee constituted by the Supreme Court, “Beneath its surface, the Aravalli Range holds immense mineral wealth. Its rocks are rich in marble, granite, mica, and other minerals, and have fuelled centuries of mining and construction across the region.” This highlights how the Aravallis are so economically important, and their loss will lead to economic consequences for all.
Loss Of A Historical Landscape
The Aravallis are not merely of ecological significance; they are also important for being one of the oldest landforms of the country. Destruction of these will cause irreversible damage to this historical landscape.
G S Bapna, secretary of Bharat Sewa Sansthan and former advocate, emphasises, “Future generations, especially Gen Z and those to come after them, will never forgive us if we fail to protect the Aravallis today.”
A Weight On Future Generations
If left unprotected, future generations will be deprived of the benefits of this great landform. The coming generations will be left with climatic, cultural, and economic issues.
In a nutshell, the Aravallis are more than just a strip of hills; they provide support to the entire north of our nation. The loss of this landscape due to poor enforcement and regulations will lead to environmental, cultural, economic, and climatic hazards. For a landform so important, proper protection is a necessity.
Images: Google Images
Sources: The Indian Express, Hindustan Times, BBC
Find the blogger: @shubhangichoudhary_29
This post is tagged under: Aravalli Hills, Aravalli Range, Supreme Court of India, judges, environmental protection, ecological significance, water crisis India, desertification, biodiversity loss, climate regulation, air pollution Delhi, environmental activism, judicial accountability, environmental law India, sustainable development, conservation India, climate change impact, mining and exploitation, future generations, India environment news
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