Jairam Ramesh Probes Disastrous Aravalli Redefinition

Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh has written a strongly worded letter to Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav, raising concerns over the recent redefinition of the Aravalli Hills. The revised definition limits the classification of the Aravallis to landforms with an elevation of 100 metres or more, a move Ramesh has described as “disastrous” for the region’s ecological integrity.

Sharing the letter on social media platform X on Sunday, Ramesh said he had posed four pointed questions to the environment minister, reflecting widespread concern among environmental experts and civil society. He warned that the new definition could significantly dilute legal and environmental protections for one of India’s oldest mountain ranges, which spans Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, and Gujarat.

In his letter dated December 28, Ramesh referred to the Forest Survey of India (FSI) report of August 28, 2010, which has been the basis for defining the Aravalli Hills in Rajasthan since 2012. Quoting the report, he noted that hill areas were earlier identified not just by height but also by slope, including landforms with a slope of three degrees or more, along with a 100-metre buffer and associated flat areas, valleys, and depressions.

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Ramesh also cited a subsequent FSI communication highlighting the ecological importance of smaller hill formations. According to the document, even modest hillocks ranging from 10 to 30 metres play a crucial role in preventing desertification by acting as natural wind barriers, protecting Delhi and neighbouring plains from sandstorms originating in the Thar Desert.

Further strengthening his argument, Ramesh referred to findings of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), appointed by the Supreme Court, which had earlier identified 164 mining leases in Rajasthan as falling within the Aravalli Hills under the older FSI definition. He questioned whether the revised definition would effectively legalise mining and construction in ecologically sensitive areas by excluding numerous smaller hill formations.

Warning of far-reaching environmental consequences, Ramesh said the redefinition threatens the geographical continuity and ecological function of the Aravalli range. The letter underlined the Congress party’s firm opposition to the move, calling for transparency, scientific reasoning, and public accountability in decisions affecting critical natural ecosystems.

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