The hills are shaken with the sound of machinery, Pg7

Key Highlights:

• In December 2025, the Supreme Court stayed its November order regarding the definition of Aravalli hills, following widespread protests over environmental concerns.
• The original order defined an Aravalli hill as rising at least 100 metres above local relief, potentially excluding lower ranges from environmental protection.
• Mining in the Aravalli hills has been a contentious issue, with a 2009 Supreme Court ban on mining and quarrying in Haryana's Faridabad, Gurugram, and Nuh districts.
• Communities in regions like Haryana's Nuh and Rajasthan's Kotputli are protesting the environmental and health impacts of mining, including water depletion and respiratory diseases.

Detailed Insights:

• The Aravalli range, stretching across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, is a 2-billion-year-old geological formation rich in minerals but threatened by mining activities.
• The Supreme Court's November 2025 order sparked concerns that reckless exploitation of the hills would be enabled, impacting climate regulation, groundwater recharge, and prevention of desert winds.
• Nuh, identified by Niti Aayog as one of India's most backward districts, faces reduced agricultural produce due to mining-induced water depletion and climate change.
• Communities report health issues like respiratory diseases and silicosis due to mining dust, with some villages in Rajasthan showing extremely high AQI levels.
• The Aravalli Virasat Jan Abhiyan is advocating for the Aravallis to be declared an ecologically sensitive region and for a comprehensive impact study to assess the damage from mining and other activities.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Silicosis: A lung disease caused by inhaling silica dust, common in mining areas.
• Ecologically Sensitive Region: An area with significant ecological value requiring special protection.
• AQI (Air Quality Index): A measure of air quality, with higher values indicating greater pollution.