The fight to save the Aravalli hills intensifies: A review of the Supreme Court's decision has been sought; Sachin Pilot questions the BJP government.

The political and environmental debate surrounding the protection of the Aravalli Hills has intensified. Congress leader and former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot has criticized the central government and four BJP-ruled states, demanding a review of the Supreme Court's decision regarding the Aravallis.

Sachin Pilot stated that since the BJP is in power in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi, as well as at the center, if all four governments work together, they can appeal to the Supreme Court to ensure the complete protection of the Aravalli region.

‘The future of the NCR is linked to the Aravallis’

Pilot warned that the Aravalli Hills act as a natural protective shield for the entire National Capital Region (NCR). If illegal mining and environmental exploitation continue unabated, it will have serious consequences. This will accelerate desertification, exacerbate pollution and water scarcity, and cause significant damage to biodiversity. He questioned what legacy future generations will inherit if we fail to protect the Aravallis today.

Large march in Jaipur on December 26

Congress leader Pilot announced that a large march will be held in Jaipur on December 26, involving student organizations and party workers. The aim is to garner public support for the protection of the Aravalli Hills and put pressure on the governments. Sachin Pilot said that the BJP governments are seriously endangering the environment by failing to effectively stop illegal mining. He added that if concrete steps are not taken now, the entire region's ecosystem will become unbalanced.

2010 vs. 2024: What is the truth about the 100-meter definition?

Former Congress Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that it is true that in 2003, the then state government received a recommendation from an expert committee regarding the '100-meter' definition from the perspective of livelihood and employment, which the state government presented to the Supreme Court through an affidavit on February 16, 2010. However, the Supreme Court rejected it just three days later, on February 19, 2010. Our government, fully respecting the judiciary's order, accepted it and commissioned the Forest Survey of India to conduct the mapping.

Our Congress government, for the first time, made serious efforts to curb illegal mining in the Aravalli range by directing the use of 'remote sensing' technology. A budget of Rs. 7 crore was allocated for the survey in 15 districts. The state government assigned direct responsibility for preventing illegal mining to the Superintendent of Police and the District Collector. The police were also given the authority to take action, along with the Mines Department, which helped curb illegal mining. The question is, why did the current BJP government in Rajasthan, in 2024, endorse the same definition that had already been "rejected" by the Supreme Court 14 years ago, in 2010, and recommend it to the central government committee? Was this due to pressure from someone, or is there a larger conspiracy at play?