Congress parliamentary party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday issued a stark warning to the Modi Government, claiming that recent policy changes have “nearly signed a death warrant” for the Aravalli Hills. She criticised amendments to the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, and the Forest Conservation Rules (2022), which exempt hills below 100 metres from mining restrictions. Gandhi alleged that this measure invites illegal mining and threatens 90% of the Aravalli range spanning Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Haryana.

Gandhi highlighted the ecological and historical significance of the Aravalli Hills, noting their role in preventing desertification, protecting forts such as Chittorgarh and Ranthambore, and nurturing spiritual communities across northwest India. She emphasised that ongoing illegal mining has already denuded large sections of the range, exacerbating air pollution and public health crises, particularly in Delhi, which faces annual smog episodes affecting millions of citizens.

The former Congress President also drew attention to alarming water quality reports, citing uranium contamination in groundwater across Delhi, Punjab, and Haryana. Gandhi argued that these environmental failures are interconnected, reflecting a decade-long governmental disregard for ecological safeguards. She condemned the Modi Administration for weakening regulations, undermining public hearings, and easing construction rules in coastal and ecologically sensitive areas, including through the Draft EIA Notification 2020 and CRZ Notification 2018.

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Gandhi criticised the Government for pitting environmental protection against local communities, citing claims by the Forest Survey of India and the National Tiger Conservation Authority that have justified the eviction of tens of thousands of families from protected areas. She denounced such actions as both legally and ethically indefensible, calling them indicative of a broader trend where environmental degradation is pursued at the expense of human welfare and indigenous rights.

She urged immediate corrective measures, including halting deforestation in the Aravalli range, Great Nicobar, Hasdeo Aranya, and Dhirauli; cracking down on illegal mining in eco-sensitive regions like the Western Ghats; and ending post-facto environmental clearances for corporate violators. Gandhi demanded a thorough review of policies enacted over the last decade, asserting that environmental protection must take precedence and that the Government must withdraw all amendments that facilitate the reckless exploitation of forests and natural resources.

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