Why is it in News?
→ Supreme Court adopted a uniform definition of Aravalli Hills.
→ Decision triggered debates on mining and environmental protection.
Important Points
- Aravalli Hills defined as landforms rising 100 metres above local relief.
- Two hills within 500 metres treated as a single Aravalli range.
- Entire intervening area included for protection.
- Supreme Court froze new mining leases in 2025.
- Mandated preparation of Sustainable Mining Plan.
- Degradation caused by deforestation, mining, urbanisation.
- Impacts include soil erosion, aquifer damage, desert gap expansion.
- Affects air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR.
- Aravalli Green Wall Initiative led by MoEF&CC across four states.