Aravalli Hills News | Mining, Livelihoods And Ecology: Inside The Growing Aravalli Debate
One of the world’s oldest mountain ranges, the Aravallis play a crucial role in checking desertification, recharging groundwater, sustaining biodiversity and regulating climate across north-west India. However, concerns over their future have intensified after the Supreme Court upheld the Centre’s revised definition of the Aravalli range, prompting fears that smaller but ecologically vital hills could be opened up to mining. While environmentalists warn of irreversible damage to water security and climate resilience, mining stakeholders argue that livelihoods in economically fragile regions depend on regulated extraction. With political protests, competing claims, and fresh directions from the Centre to halt new mining leases, the fate of the Aravallis remains a contentious and unresolved issue.
