The Aravalli range, one of the oldest mountain systems in the world, plays a crucial role in protecting northern India’s environment. Stretching from Gujarat through Rajasthan and Haryana up to Delhi, these hills act as a natural barrier against desertification, groundwater depletion, and air pollution. However, decades of mining and policy changes have placed the Aravallis at the center of a prolonged environmental debate.
Following a recent Supreme Court order, the controversy surrounding the Aravalli region has once again intensified. Environmental experts warn that unchecked degradation of the hills could allow the Thar Desert to advance toward the Delhi-NCR region, severely impacting climate stability.
Large-scale mining activities in the Aravalli region began in the 1990s, driven by the availability of marble, granite, and other minerals. This led to flattened hills, falling groundwater levels, destruction of forests, and acute water shortages in nearby villages.
In response, environmental groups approached the Supreme Court. In 1992, the court intervened for the first time, imposing restrictions on mining activities. A 2002 report by the Central Empowered Committee confirmed severe environmental damage caused by mining in Rajasthan and Haryana.
In 2003, the Rajasthan government adopted the controversial “Murphy Formula,” defining only hills above 100 meters in height as part of the Aravalli range. This redefinition opened vast areas to mining, triggering widespread criticism.
Despite changes in government, mining continued until the Supreme Court reinforced restrictions in 2005 and imposed a complete ban in parts of Haryana in 2009 without environmental clearance.
The Forest Survey of India’s 2010 report further highlighted extensive damage to the Aravallis, prompting renewed calls for a clear and uniform definition of the mountain range.
In November 2025, the central government reintroduced the Murphy Formula, and on November 20, 2025, the Supreme Court extended this definition across the entire Aravalli region. The shift from polygon mapping to contour-based mapping has raised serious environmental concerns.
While the government maintains that mining will remain limited and regulated, environmentalists fear the ruling could mark the beginning of irreversible damage to one of India’s most vital ecological zones.