NEW DELHI, 27/12/2025
A wave of protests, led by residents, environmentalists, and citizen groups, is sweeping across the National Capital Region (NCR) as a furious public campaign mounts to halt construction and mining activities in the ecologically critical Aravali range. Dubbed the “Ancient Green Wall” of North India, the rapidly shrinking hills have become the epicenter of a fierce battle between development imperatives and existential environmental protection.
The immediate flashpoint is a series of proposed and ongoing projects, including the construction of a road through the ecologically sensitive zone in Mangar Bani (near Gurugram) and the renewal of mining leases in Rajasthan’s Aravali districts. Protesters argue these activities violate multiple Supreme Court orders and environmental laws that designate large sections of the Aravalis as protected forest land, natural conservation zones, and groundwater recharge areas.
“The Aravalis are not just hills; they are Delhi-NCR’s lungs and its primary water vault,” said Neelam Ahluwalia, founder of the Aravali Bachao citizens’ movement, at a recent rally. “Every bulldozer that flattens a ridge is paving the way for a dustier, hotter, and thirstier future for 50 million people in this region. We are fighting for basic survival.”
The protests have taken various forms: from large peaceful marches and human chains in Gurugram and Faridabad to litigations in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Supreme Court. Social media campaigns with hashtags like #SaveAravalis have garnered widespread support, highlighting the stark contrast between lush, protected sections and ravaged, mined-out landscapes.
Authorities and developers, however, cite regional connectivity and economic growth. The proposed road in Mangar Bani, for instance, is defended as a necessary infrastructure project to ease traffic congestion between burgeoning urban centers.
The conflict is underscored by alarming data. Studies by environmental research groups show the Aravalis have lost over 30% of their forest cover in the last four decades. This deforestation is directly linked to worsening air pollution in Delhi-NCR, as the hills act as a natural barrier against dust storms from the Thar Desert. Furthermore, the range’s unique geology is crucial for recharging the aquifers that supply water to the region.
The Supreme Court has previously called the Aravalis a “natural heritage” and explicitly banned mining in key zones. Protesters are now demanding stricter enforcement of these orders and a blanket moratorium on all construction and excavation. “The law is clear, but the implementation is broken. This protest is about holding the system accountable before it’s too late,” asserted a young protester in Faridabad.
As the standoff continues, the Aravali protests symbolize a larger, nationwide tension between unchecked urban sprawl and the preservation of vital ecosystems. The outcome will not only determine the fate of a 1.5-billion-year-old mountain range but also set a precedent for how India manages the fragile environment surrounding its megacities. The citizens’ message is clear: saving the Aravalis is no longer just an environmental cause, but a critical public health and security imperative.