Protesters Demand Protection for Aravallis: Silent Demonstration Outside Minister's Home

‘Save the Aravallis’, ‘Stop Messing with the Aravallis’, ‘Let me Breathe’, ‘Murder by definition’, ‘Save Aravallis from land mafia and bureaucrats’ — these were among the slogans on placards and banners as more than a hundred protesters gathered outside the official residence of Haryana Environment Minister Rao Narbir Singh on Saturday for a silent demonstration.

Unfazed by fog and winter chill, protesters — a mix of young and old — registered their objection against the recent Supreme Court order accepting Centre’s recommendation, which redefines the Aravallis. This redefinition means that only hill structures above 100 meters in height would be entitled to environmental protection.

Environmentalists have contended that the definition would in effect open up 99% of the Aravallis in Haryana to the mining and real estate sector. The demonstrators formed human chains on either side of the roads outside the Civil Lines residence-cum-office of the Environment Minister. “This (SC order) 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 and conservationist Sunil Harsana.

Aam Aadmi Party leader and spokesperson Dr. Sarika Verma said the new definition will sound the death knell for the Aravallis. “The Union and state governments are both responsible… and it is unfortunate that money and ‘development’ have been prioritised over air quality. The future of the next generation has been sold out over the years to benefit builders (eyeing the ranges) by hook or crook,” she said.

Vaishali Rana, environmentalist and trustee of Aravalli Bachao Citizens Movement, said: “With this definition, the NCR will not be livable at all, the air quality is already so bad. We plan to file a public interest litigation (PIL) against the definition.” The RWA chairperson of Suncity township off Golf Course Road, which lies at the foothills of the Aravallis, said: “The forests behind us will have nothing left. It is a very disappointing order.”

The protest began at 3 pm and lasted an hour. A letter was then submitted at the office of the Minister with signatures of the participants. The letter, prepared by the Aravalli Bachao Citizens Movement, stated that only 1,048 out of 1,19,575 hills will remain protected, threatening the entire 76,000 sq km Aravalli range, the world’s oldest mountain systems, across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.

The letter stated the demands of an urgent comparative analysis of all definitions, time-bound judicial reports to be placed, and a reconsideration of the definition with results.