Aravalli Hills Redefined: Why The New Rule, Mining Push, & Adani’s Name Are Being Linked
The controversy around the new definition of the Aravalli Hills has grown far beyond a technical debate and is now being seen by many as a move that could quietly open vast ecologically sensitive areas to mining and real estate activity.
While the Union Environment Ministry insists that there is no immediate danger to the Aravallis and that mining will be allowed in only a very small fraction of the region, critics argue that the change fundamentally alters what is officially recognised as the Aravalli range, and that this change may benefit large corporate players, including groups allegedly linked to mining and infrastructure, such as the Adani Group.
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Under the new definition approved by the Supreme Court on November 20, a landform will be called part of the Aravalli Hills only if it rises at least 100 metres above its immediate surroundings, known as the “local profile”.
This sounds simple, but in reality, many Aravalli hillocks, especially in Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi-NCR, are low-lying and spread out, not steep or tall.
Because of this, large portions that were earlier counted as Aravallis by the Forest Survey of India may now be officially excluded.
Environmental experts say that once land is removed from the Aravalli label, it loses several layers of protection, making it easier for mining, construction, and commercial activity to move in.
This is where concerns about corporate interests come in.
The Aravalli region is rich in minerals such as limestone and stone, which are crucial for cement and infrastructure projects.
Over the years, large companies, including firms linked to the Adani Group, have had interests in mining, cement production, and infrastructure development in Rajasthan and neighbouring states.
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While the government says legal mining is limited, critics point out that redefining the Aravallis could legitimise future mining applications in areas that were earlier considered off-limits.
Activists and opposition leaders have repeatedly alleged that weakening environmental definitions benefits big industrial players by creating legal room for expansion.
They argue that companies like Adani, which operate across ports, power, cement, and infrastructure, stand to gain if large tracts of land are freed from strict environmental scrutiny.
Hundreds of farmers and environmental activists have come out on the roads with their tractors to protest against the destruction of the Aravalli Hills, illegal mining, and what they describe as irreversible environmental damage.
Photos and videos of the protest are being widely shared on social media, even as many protesters claim that the issue is receiving little attention in the national media.
National media won’t show this hundreds of farmers standing with their tractors against the destruction of the Aravalli Hills, illegal mining, and irreversible environmental damage.
This isn’t a protest against the government; it’s a movement to protect our natural legacy. Yet… pic.twitter.com/jxAQa2ljdF
— Rattan Dhillon (@ShivrattanDhil1) December 21, 2025
The protesters say their movement is not against any government, but a collective effort to protect the Aravallis, one of India’s oldest mountain ranges and a crucial ecological shield for north India.
They argue that unchecked mining, land degradation, and dilution of environmental protections are threatening forests, groundwater, wildlife, and farming livelihoods.
Though there is no official statement naming any specific company in the new Aravalli definition, critics say the pattern fits a broader trend where environmental safeguards are diluted in ways that favour large-scale projects.
The government, however, has denied these allegations. Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has said that no new mining leases will be issued until further studies are completed and that protected areas such as tiger reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, and eco-sensitive zones will remain untouched.
But experts warn that these protections are not permanent and can be altered later, as seen in past attempts to redraw the boundaries of reserves like Sariska.
The deeper worry is not just mining, but what comes after. Once Aravalli land is derecognised, it can be opened up for real estate development, highways, industrial corridors, and urban expansion, especially in Delhi-NCR, where land values are extremely high.
Environmentalists say this could weaken the Aravallis’ role as a natural barrier against desertification, dust storms, and air pollution, and could also affect groundwater recharge.
