Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Thursday slammed the BJP-led government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi for redefining the Aravallis against expert opinion, calling the move “dangerous and disastrous.”
Taking to X, the senior Congress leader criticised the Centre’s decision, saying, “The Modi Sarkar’s redefinition of the Aravallis, that goes against all expert opinion, is dangerous and disastrous.”
Ramesh cited data from the Forest Survey of India (FSI), which he described as authoritative, to argue that only 8.7% of Aravalli hills higher than 20 metres exceed 100 metres in height.
“If we take all Aravalli hills identified by FSI, not even 1% exceeds 100 meters. The FSI believes, and rightly so, that height limits are dubious and ALL of the Aravallis, irrespective of height, should be protected,” he added.
He further asserted that more than 90% of the Aravallis would lose protection under the new redefinition, warning that this could open the region to mining, real estate, and other activities that would further damage an already degraded ecosystem.
“This could well get opened up for mining, real estate, and other activities that will further damage an already ravaged ecosystem,” he wrote.
Taking a swipe at the BJP, Ramesh said the move was another example of what he described as the Modi government’s “determined assault on ecological balance”, citing steps such as the loosening of pollution norms, weakening of environment and forest laws, and the dilution of institutions like the National Green Tribunal.
“There is simply no connection between the Prime Minister’s global talk and his local walk when it comes to environmental concerns,” he said.
On Wednesday, the Congress leader also criticised the Centre’s announcement banning new mining leases in the Aravallis, calling it a hollow and misleading attempt at damage control.
He wrote on X, “This is a hollow and misleading attempt at damage control that will fool no one.”
He said the announcements were merely cosmetic, noting that the dangerous new definition of the Aravallis, which restricts protection to areas above 100 metres and has been rejected by the FSI, the Supreme Court–appointed Central Empowered Committee, and the Supreme Court’s amicus curiae, remains unchanged.
“The Aravalli hills are not being protected; they are being sold,” Ramesh alleged.
