The Aravalli Hills, one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world that spans approximately 700 km in length, has long served as a natural shield for blocking sand and dust from the Thar Desert while also aiding groundwater recharge and sustaining rich biodiversity for multiple states, including the Delhi-NCR region.

But, with the Supreme Court recently accepting a new government definition that only hills taller than 100 meters will count, experts have warned that many parts of the ecologically vital Aravallis may no longer be protected and thus could expose many regions, including Delhi, to harsher weather and drought conditions.

“Calling only hills above 100 metres ‘Aravallis’ erases the landscape that keeps North India breathing and feeds our wells. On paper, it’s ‘sustainable mining

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