Environmental experts and conservation advocates are voicing strong concern after a recent court ruling they say could erode critical protections for India’s ancient Aravalli hills. The decision, issued by a state-level court, relaxes certain land-use restrictions in designated forest and conservation zones—opening the door for expanded construction, quarrying, and real-estate development in parts of the centuries-old mountain range.
Specialists warn the ruling threatens one of the world’s oldest fold mountain systems, already severely degraded by decades of mining, deforestation, and urban expansion. The Aravallis act as a natural barrier against desertification, protect groundwater recharge zones, and help regulate temperatures across the National Capital Region. Environmentalists argue that further fragmentation of the hills could worsen air pollution, intensify water scarcity, and increase the risk of dust storms advancing toward major cities.
Several ecologists have called for an immediate review of the decision, saying the court did not fully account for scientific assessments of ecological fragility. Civil society groups are preparing appeals and urging the central government to strengthen national-level safeguards to prevent irreversible damage.
Local communities living near the hills also expressed worry, noting that the ruling may accelerate habitat loss at a time when the region is already experiencing rising temperatures and declining green cover.
