Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Monday rejected allegations that the Aravalli hills are being opened up for unchecked mining, insisting that the Supreme Court’s directions are being followed
and that the mountain range remains protected.
“The Supreme Court has already given its judgment on this matter. Our government promotes a green Aravalli. Misinformation is being spread regarding the Aravalli hills,” Yadav said.
He added that out of the total 1.44 lakh square kilometre area of the Aravalli Range, mining eligibility applies to only 0.19 per cent of the region. “The Aravalli is protected and secure. Those who are lying, their lies will get exposed,” the minister said.
Pilot Sounds Alarm
Congress leader Sachin Pilot strongly countered the government’s claims, warning that continued reliance on outdated assessments could lead to irreversible environmental damage across the National Capital Region.
Speaking to CNN-News18, Pilot said that by allowing existing Supreme Court guidelines to continue without updated ground-level assessments, authorities were effectively permitting the destruction of one of the world’s oldest mountain ranges.
“By allowing these guidelines to continue, you are allowing the oldest mountain ranges to be destroyed. They are using outdated reports,” Pilot said, adding that the court’s decisions largely depend on reports submitted by governments.
“If the Aravalli is destroyed, the entire NCR region will be affected. Public outrage has to be answered,” he said.
Pilot also announced that he would hold a protest march in Jaipur on December 26 against what he described as the government’s approach to the Aravalli issue.
#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka: On the Aravalli hills row, Congress leader Sachin Pilot says, “The government has been completely exposed on the Aravalli issue. The direction they are heading in makes it clear that they bear no responsibility toward our mountain range. If we… pic.twitter.com/Zk4vroxHu6
— ANI (@ANI) December 22, 2025
Congress Backs Protest
Backing Pilot’s stand, Congress leader Pawan Khera said the environmental consequences could be catastrophic if the current framework continues.
“If the new order on the Aravallis is implemented, the ecological balance of this entire region, several states, or half of India will be destroyed,” Khera said.
“The Aravalli mountain range protects Delhi, Haryana, and the agriculture of this entire area from the sand coming from the Thar Desert. The Aravallis play a crucial role in maintaining this balance. If anyone even touches the Aravallis, they will be considered an enemy of this country and this region,” he added.
What the Supreme Court Said
The dispute centres on a series of rulings and clarifications by the Supreme Court of India on mining and construction activity in the Aravalli range.
In earlier landmark orders, the apex court imposed strict restrictions on mining in ecologically sensitive areas of the Aravallis, particularly in Haryana and Rajasthan, citing environmental degradation and public health concerns.
In later years, however, the court allowed regulated activity in certain non-forest areas, relying on state government classifications, environmental impact assessments, and affidavits submitted to it. Critics argue these classifications are based on outdated surveys that fail to reflect current ecological damage, while the government maintains that mining is permitted only in narrowly defined, legally designated zones.
The court has consistently held that its decisions are guided by official records and reports placed before it—a point repeatedly highlighted by Sachin Pilot.
Why NCR Is at the Centre of the Debate
Environmentalists warn that further degradation of the Aravallis could worsen air pollution, water scarcity and extreme heat across the NCR, which is already under severe environmental stress.
While the Centre maintains that existing legal safeguards are sufficient to protect the hills, opposition leaders and activists are demanding updated scientific studies and stricter enforcement to prevent irreversible damage.
As political sparring intensifies, the Aravalli hills once again find themselves at the intersection of development, environmental protection and judicial oversight.
