More than a hundred citizens staged a silent protest outside the official residence of Haryana's Environment Minister, Rao Narbir Singh, in Gurgaon on Saturday. The demonstration was a direct response to a recent Supreme Court order that has accepted a new, narrower definition of the Aravalli mountain range, a move protesters fear will lead to its ecological destruction.
Fog and Chill Fail to Deter Demonstrators
Braving the winter fog and chill, a diverse group of young and old protesters gathered at the Minister's Civil Lines residence-cum-office at 3 PM. They held placards with slogans like 'Save the Aravallis', 'Murder by definition', and 'Save Aravallis from land mafia and bureaucrats'. The hour-long protest saw participants forming human chains on both sides of the road leading to the minister's office, culminating in the submission of a signed letter detailing their demands.
Why the New Definition is Controversial
The core of the controversy lies in the Supreme Court's acceptance of the Centre's recommendation, which now defines the Aravallis in a way that only hill structures above 100 meters in height will be entitled to environmental protection. Environmentalists argue this technical redefinition is a death knell for the ancient range.
"This gives a free hand for anything to be done in the Aravallis, be it mining or real estate. 99% of the Aravallis in Haryana will be affected," said environmentalist Sunil Harsana. The protest letter, prepared by the Aravalli Bachao Citizens Movement, provided stark numbers: only 1,048 out of 119,575 hills will remain protected, threatening the entire 76,000 sq km range spread across four states.
Political and Civic Voices Join the Chorus
Aam Aadmi Party leader Dr. Sarika Verma accused both the Union and state governments of prioritizing money and so-called development over air quality and the future of coming generations. "The future of the next generation has been sold out over the years to benefit builders by hook or crook," she stated.
Vaishali Rana, an environmentalist and trustee of the Aravalli Bachao Citizens Movement, warned of dire consequences for the National Capital Region's livability and announced plans to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the new definition. A resident welfare association chairperson from Suncity township, located at the Aravalli foothills, expressed deep disappointment, fearing the forests behind their homes would be left with nothing.
Demands for Reconsideration
The letter submitted to the Minister's office outlined clear demands. These include conducting an urgent comparative analysis of all existing definitions of the Aravallis, placing time-bound judicial reports in the public domain, and a complete reconsideration of the new definition based on the findings. The protesters emphasized that the Aravallis, one of the world's oldest mountain systems, are a critical natural barrier against desertification and air pollution for north India, and weakening its protection would have catastrophic environmental repercussions.
