Supreme Court's 100-Metre Elevation Rule Threatens 90% of Aravalli Hills Protection: Environmental and Ecological Implications

Environmental advocates have expressed significant concerns following the Supreme Court's recent ruling.

The Supreme Court has endorsed a new official definition for the Aravalli Hills, a decision that may fundamentally alter the legal protection framework for one of the world's oldest mountain ranges. Business Standard reports that a judicial bench approved recommendations from a Union Environment Ministry committee on November 20, which aimed to standardize the definition of the 692-kilometer range spanning across northwestern India.

The newly established criteria specifies that any landform within Aravalli districts must have a minimum elevation of 100 meters above the surrounding terrain—including its slopes and adjacent areas—to qualify as part of the Aravalli Hills. Additionally, the court instructed the Centre to conduct comprehensive scientific mapping and develop a "sustainable mining plan," while prohibiting the issuance of new mining leases until this process is completed.

However, the 100-meter elevation requirement has sparked widespread concern. Environmental experts caution that this threshold could exclude substantial portions of low-lying yet ecologically significant ridges that were previously protected. According to The Indian Express, an internal Forest Survey of India (FSI) assessment revealed that merely 1,048 out of 12,081 mapped hills—representing just 8.7%—meet the 100-meter criterion. This suggests that nearly 90% of what has traditionally been considered Aravalli terrain might lose its legal protection status.

Courts have historically been instrumental in protecting the Aravallis. Since the 1990s, the Supreme Court has consistently intervened to restrict unregulated mining activities across Rajasthan and Haryana. The landmark 1996 ruling in MC Mehta vs Union of India resulted in the closure of hundreds of quarries around Delhi after the court determined that mining operations were causing "irreversible environmental damage."

Subsequent judicial orders enhanced monitoring mechanisms, implemented bans in ecologically vulnerable zones, and directed state governments to rehabilitate mined areas. Throughout the years, courts have repeatedly reprimanded state administrations for illegal extraction practices, inadequate enforcement measures, and failures to safeguard crucial wildlife corridors.

This extensive history of judicial oversight explains why many conservationists fear the new definition might undermine decades of environmental protection efforts.

Scientists and conservation organizations warn that reducing the legally recognized extent of the Aravallis could accelerate ecological deterioration throughout the region. Lower ridges and interconnected hill systems—often the first targets for encroachment—serve essential ecological functions:

They highlight risks including habitat loss and fragmentation of wildlife corridors affecting leopards, hyenas, and numerous bird species; damage to groundwater recharge zones impacting peri-urban agricultural areas; degradation of scrub forests and native vegetation that support reptiles, pollinators, and grassland birds; increased desertification risks, with dust and heat worsening air quality in the National Capital Region; and disruption of microclimates, potentially causing further depletion of groundwater levels.

The Congress party has also voiced strong opposition. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi sharply criticized the Centre regarding the modified definition of the Aravalli hills range, describing it as a "death warrant" for these ancient mountains. Former environment minister and party leader Jairam Ramesh stated on social media: "This is bizarre and will have very grave environmental and public health consequences. It calls for an immediate review."

A report by a central committee, cited by news agency PTI, emphasizes the Aravallis' critical role in moderating regional climate patterns, slowing desertification processes, and recharging vital aquifers. It urges state governments to implement strict mapping protocols, adopt more robust safeguards, and utilize digital technologies—including artificial intelligence and machine learning—to combat illegal mining activities.

The Supreme Court's 100-meter rule has now intensified the ongoing debate about achieving balance between sustainable mining practices and preserving an ancient ecological barrier that has already endured considerable pressure over decades.