‘Save Aravalli’ campaign gathers momentum as mining threat looms from north India to Gujarat

A nationwide ‘Save Aravalli’ campaign has gained momentum amid concerns over excavation and mining activities across the Aravalli mountain range, stretching from north India to Gujarat.

Environmentalists warn that permitting destruction in the name of development could severely damage the ecosystem, with long-term and irreversible consequences.

Along the Gujarat–Rajasthan border, the Aravalli range presents a landscape of hills and forests. 

Activists fear that such scenic ranges could soon be scarred by bulldozers, as mineral mining poses a serious threat to the fragile environment.

Protests spread from Rajasthan to Gujarat

Following a Supreme Court judgment related to the Aravalli range, apprehensions have grown over the possibility of illegal mining. This has sparked protests in Rajasthan, with the agitation now spreading to Gujarat.

Environmentalists warn that unchecked mining in the Aravallis would not only harm Rajasthan but also have far-reaching consequences for Gujarat.

Risk of desertification in north Gujarat

Experts warn that if the Aravalli range is cut down for mineral extraction, sand from the Rajasthan desert could enter Gujarat, potentially turning parts of north Gujarat into a desert.

Water inflow into rivers such as the Sabarmati and Meshwo could decline sharply. The Aravalli range holds unique geographical significance and currently acts as a protective barrier for Gujarat.

Environmentalists note that if the 100-metre height definition is applied, nearly 80 per cent of the hills could be affected.

Threat to rivers and water resources

The Aravalli hills are the source of both the Sabarmati and Meshwo rivers. Illegal mining, experts warn, could choke water flow to these rivers, leaving downstream dams dry. 

Environmentalist Mahesh Pandya has expressed serious concern, stating that if the height of the Aravalli range is reduced, desert sand from Rajasthan could enter Gujarat. “Such a scenario could render fertile land in Banaskantha and Sabarkantha districts barren, severely impacting agriculture and delivering a major blow to farmers,” he said.

Tribal culture and survival at stake

The Aravalli range also helps block hot winds from entering Gujarat, making any reduction in its height untenable for the state. 

Activists warn that if hills below 100 metres are removed, tribal communities could face an existential crisis. This has triggered rallies and protest demonstrations in Sabarkantha and Aravalli districts, with locals demanding immediate protection of the mountain range.

Centre rejects claims

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav had categorically rejected claims of dilution in protection norms for the Aravalli range, asserting that “no relaxation has been given”.

Addressing a press conference in Kolkata, Yadav had said the Aravalli range, one of the world’s oldest mountain systems, spans four states — Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat — covering 39 districts and an area of around 1.44 lakh square kilometres.

“The matter concerning the Aravalli range has been under judicial scrutiny since 1985. From the very beginning, the thrust has been on strict regulation, especially of mining activities,” he said.

The minister underlined that the Supreme Court has directed all four states to adopt a uniform definition of the Aravalli range to prevent regulatory loopholes. This definition, he said, is based on a 1968 geological study by Richard Murphy and includes a 100-metre protection buffer.

Clarifying the provision, he added that the protection extends from the base structure of the mountain. “Even if the base goes 20 metres underground, the 100-metre protection applies from that point,” he explained.

Yadav stressed that mining is entirely banned in the Aravalli hills of Delhi and the issue remains under the Supreme Court’s consideration.

Highlighting the scale of protection, the minister said that of the total 1.44 lakh sq km Aravalli region, only about 0.19% area may be eligible for mining under existing legal frameworks, while the rest remains fully protected.