New Delhi, Dec 24 (PTI) The Congress on Wednesday accused the government of misleading the public over Aravallis, questioning why it is pushing through a “fatally flawed redefinition” of the hills.
In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the redefinition being adopted has been opposed by the Forest Survey of India, the Central Empowered Committee of the Supreme Court, and the SC’s amicus curiae.
Under the new definition, an “Aravalli Hill” is a landform at least 100 metres above its surrounding terrain, and an “Aravalli Range” is a cluster of two or more such hills within 500 metres of each other. Critics argue that many ecologically important parts—such as low ridges, slopes, foothills, and recharge areas—do not meet this threshold but are crucial for groundwater recharge, biodiversity, climate moderation, and soil stability.
The Centre rejected claims that the new definition weakens environmental safeguards, stating that over 90 per cent of the Aravalli region remains protected and mining controls are unchanged.
Ramesh said, “It is by now abundantly clear that the Union Minister of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change is being economical with the truth on the Aravallis issue and is misleading the public.”
He added, “The redefinition of the Aravallis that the Modi Government is adopting has been clearly and compellingly OPPOSED by (i) Forest Survey of India; (ii) the Central Empowered Committee first set up by the Supreme Court in May 2002 and reconstituted in Dec 2023; and (iii) the Supreme Court’s own amicus curiae.”
The Congress earlier questioned why the government was “hell-bent” on redefining the mountain range and for whose benefit, stressing that the Aravallis are the country’s natural heritage with significant ecological value.
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