Centre Redefines Aravalli Hills for Mining - Sonia Calls It a ‘Death Warrant’

Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday sharply criticised the Central Government over changes in the definition of the Aravalli hills, calling it a “death warrant” for the ecologically and historically significant range.

The Supreme Court had on November 20 accepted the Centre’s revised definition of the Aravalli hills, which states that hills in the range with an elevation of less than 100 metres are not subject to mining restrictions. Congress shared an excerpt from Gandhi’s article in a national daily, in which she warned that the decision threatens the majority of the range, which already suffers from illegal mining.

“The Aravalli range, stretching from Gujarat through Rajasthan to Haryana, has long played a vital role in India’s geography and history,” Gandhi wrote. “The Modi Government has now nearly signed a death warrant for these hills. It is an open invitation for illegal miners and mafias to finish off 90 per cent of the range that falls below the height limit set by the Government.”

Gandhi also flagged concerns over deforestation and eviction of local communities, calling it a breach of the spirit of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. She demanded policy-level changes, urging the Centre to roll back amendments to the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, and the Forest Conservation Rules, 2022, to ensure stronger environmental safeguards.

The Supreme Court, while accepting the Centre’s definition, also directed the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to prepare a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM). The plan is tasked with identifying areas where mining is permissible, mapping ecologically sensitive and conservation-critical zones, and determining regions for restoration priority. It must incorporate a thorough analysis of cumulative environmental impacts and the ecological carrying capacity of the region.

The MPSM will also include detailed post-mining restoration and rehabilitation measures to ensure mined areas can be restored over time. Meanwhile, the court has ordered that no new mining leases be granted until the plan is finalised, aiming to prevent further immediate damage to the hills.

Environmentalists and political leaders have warned that, without strict enforcement, the government’s new definition risks irreversible damage to the Aravalli range, which plays a crucial role in groundwater recharge, biodiversity preservation, and protection against desertification. Gandhi’s comments underscore growing concerns over balancing development with conservation, highlighting the need for sustainable and scientifically guided mining practices.