1️⃣ Illegal Mining & Environmental Damage

• Widespread illegal mining in parts of Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi-NCR has caused:

  • Loss of forest cover

  • Groundwater depletion

  • Increased air pollution (dust)

• Environmental groups raised concerns over long-term ecological damage.

2️⃣ Supreme Court & NGT Intervention

• The Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal (NGT) have:

  • Ordered strict action against illegal mining

  • Sought restoration of degraded Aravalli land

  • Asked states to clearly identify and protect Aravalli forest areas

3️⃣ Aravalli’s Role in Climate & Ecology

• Aravalli hills act as a natural barrier against desertification from the Thar Desert.

• They help in:

  • Regulating climate

  • Recharging groundwater

  • Reducing pollution in Delhi-NCR

• Any damage directly impacts climate resilience in North India.

4️⃣ Forest Classification Dispute

• A major issue is the definition of “forest land” in the Aravalli region.

• Some areas were excluded from forest records, leading to:

  • Real estate expansion

  • Mining permissions

• Courts are reviewing state policies on this matter.