Hundreds of protesters gathered outside Haryana Environment Minister Rao Narbir Singh's residence in Gurgaon following the Supreme Court's acceptance of a new definition for the Aravalli hills. Activists warn that the ruling, which protects only hills over 100 meters tall, will expose 99% of the range in Haryana to mining and real estate, worsening air quality in Delhi-NCR. They submitted a letter with demands and plan to file a public interest litigation.
On Saturday, despite fog and winter chill in Gurgaon, more than a hundred protesters gathered outside the official residence of Haryana Environment Minister Rao Narbir Singh for a silent demonstration. The protest targeted a recent Supreme Court order accepting the Centre's recommendation to redefine the Aravallis, limiting environmental protection to hill structures over 100 meters in height. Environmentalists argue this would open 99% of the Aravallis in Haryana to mining and real estate development.
Placards bore slogans such as 'Save the Aravallis', 'Stop Messing with the Aravallis', 'Let me Breathe', 'Murder by Definition', and 'Save Aravallis from land mafia and bureaucrats'. The crowd, comprising young and old, formed human chains along the roads outside the Civil Lines residence.
Environmentalist Sunil Harsana stated, “This (SC order) gives a free hand for anything to be done in the Aravallis, be it mining or real estate… 99% of the Aravallis in Haryana will be affected.” Aam Aadmi Party leader Dr Sarika Verma said, “The new definition will sound the death knell for the Aravallis. The Union and state governments are both responsible… and it is unfortunate that money and ‘development’ have been prioritised over air quality.”
Vaishali Rana, trustee of Aravalli Bachao Citizens Movement, remarked, “With this definition, the NCR will not be livable at all, the air quality is already so bad. We plan to file a public interest litigation (PIL) against the definition.” The RWA chairperson of Suncity township added, “The forests behind us will have nothing left. It is a very disappointing order.”
The demonstration began at 3 pm and lasted an hour, after which a letter signed by participants was submitted to the minister's office. Prepared by the Aravalli Bachao Citizens Movement, the letter noted that only 1,048 out of 1,19,575 hills would remain protected, endangering the 76,000 sq km Aravalli range spanning Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat—the world's oldest mountain system. It demanded an urgent comparative analysis of definitions, time-bound judicial reports, and reconsideration of the ruling.
The Aravallis serve as a natural shield for Delhi-NCR, playing a crucial role in preventing pollution and maintaining ecological balance. Activists fear this could lead to widespread environmental destruction.
