New Delhi : A political battle has erupted between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress over the protection of the Aravalli Hills, with the ruling party accusing the opposition of misleading the public on mining rules and environmental safeguards.
While the BJP has defended 100-metre hill criterion and a 500-metre buffer rule to define protected areas, saying it would standardise conservation, the Congress has alleged that the new definition could open up the ancient mountain range to mining, leading to its destruction.
The New Definition of Aravalli Hills
The Supreme Court, on November 20, 2025, accepted the recommendations of a committee under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change on the definition of Aravalli Hills and Ranges. According to the new definition, “Aravalli Hill is any landform in designated Aravalli districts with an elevation of 100 metres or more above its local relief” and an “Aravalli Range is a collection of two or more such hills within 500 metres of each other”.
Congress To Hold Massive Protest
The Congress party will hold a massive protest on December 26 against the Centre on the Aravalli definition issue. “To my mind, the only incentive could be to oblige few people who make money in the mining sector. Whoever may be involved — there should be a judicial probe as to who started it, who is doing and behind all this,” said AICC General Secretary Sachin Pilot. “It is a death warrant, as I can see it, in the next few years, what is going to happen to the Aravallis,” he added.
Meanwhile, former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot accused the Centre of conspiring to “sell” Aravalli Hills under the pretext of its protection, and alleged “institutional capture and attempts to weaken environmental safeguards to benefit mining interests”.
BJP Fact-Checks Congress
“The Modi government stands like a rock for the conservation of the Aravallis. Opposition parties are manufacturing outrage to hide the truth,” posted BJP on X. “𝐋𝐈𝐄: The 100m rule allows mining the bottom of the hill. 𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐓𝐇: The definition covers the 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 – from the lowest contour (Base) to the Peak. It includes supporting slopes. Not a single inch of the hill structure can be touched. The “Scooping” theory is a myth,” it said.
The BJP said that according to the new definition, 90% of the 47 Lakh sq km Aravalli landscape is “Protected,” and only 2% is available that too “subject to strict clearance.” “The 500-Meter Shield. To prevent fragmentation, the rules are clear: If two hills (100m+) are within 500m of each other, the area between them is the “Aravalli Range”. This protects the valleys, wildlife corridors, and connecting ridges from any mining activity.”
It added that the national parks and sancturies, the tiger reserves and wetlands, CAMPA Plantations are “no go zones.” “The Congress Hypocrisy Exposed. They are crying about the “100m criterion” today. 𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐓: The Rajasthan Govt (under Congress) has followed the 𝐒𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝐦 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐉𝐚𝐧 𝟗, 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟔! Why was it fine then, but “destruction” now? The double standards are glaring.”
