Ahead of the Supreme Court’s upcoming hearing on the Aravalli case, renowned water conservationist Rajendra Singh, popularly known as the “Waterman of India,” has written a detailed letter to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, urging the court to reconsider its November 20 ruling. The judgment had accepted the Centre’s proposal to define the Aravalli range based on landforms rising 100 metres or more above the surrounding terrain, a move Singh believes could have devastating environmental consequences.
In his letter, Singh expressed deep concern over the implications of the court’s decision, stating that it has effectively led to the demarcation and fragmentation of the ancient Aravalli range. He wrote that the mountains, which have for centuries played a vital role in preserving nature, water systems and ecological balance, are now being broken up into disconnected patches. According to him, this division has severely damaged the ecological unity of the Aravallis and reduced them to scattered hillocks, stripping the region of its natural continuity and environmental resilience.
Singh further warned that the new classification would open up vast tracts of land to mining and construction activities. He pointed out that more than 90 per cent of the remaining Aravalli region could now be made available for commercial exploitation. Highlighting a key concern, he noted that there is no hill rising to 100 metres along the Delhi-Haryana border, meaning the entire stretch could be cleared for development. Such a move, he cautioned, would remove a crucial natural barrier and could allow the Thar Desert to gradually advance towards Delhi.
Emphasising the ecological importance of the Aravallis, Singh wrote that the mountain range is not merely a physical formation but a complex and ancient ecosystem shaped over millions of years. He explained that its significance lies in its gentle slopes, monsoon patterns, groundwater recharge systems, forests, biodiversity, and traditional water-harvesting practices. He questioned the logic of attempting to define or limit such a living ecosystem through arbitrary measurements, stressing that the Constitution itself mandates the protection and enhancement of natural resources and ecological balance.
Recalling his long-standing involvement in environmental protection, Singh referred to his 1994 petition that led to the closure of 478 mines in the Sariska region and halted destructive mining activities across parts of the Aravallis. He urged the judiciary to show the same vigilance now, warning that irreversible damage could occur if corrective steps were not taken immediately. He also noted that public awareness around saving the Aravallis was rapidly growing, with citizens increasingly recognising the mountain range’s role in environmental stability.
Singh argued that the true definition of the Aravalli range could only be understood through India’s traditional ecological knowledge systems rather than modern economic or technical classifications. He suggested that independent agencies use existing Survey of India maps to demonstrate how criteria such as altitude or slope fail to capture the ecological reality of the region. According to him, such arbitrary benchmarks ignore the interconnected nature of landscapes and the long-term environmental consequences of fragmentation.
He also highlighted that the Supreme Court itself has, on multiple occasions, acknowledged the geographical and environmental significance of the Aravalli range, including its role in shaping climatic conditions, supporting biodiversity, and influencing the formation of surrounding regions. In the context of rising pollution levels and accelerating climate change, Singh stressed that protecting the Aravallis was no longer optional but essential for ecological survival.
Concluding his letter, Singh issued a stark warning, stating that the destruction of the Aravalli range would amount to the destruction of both nature and human life. He cautioned that such damage would be irreversible and that future generations would hold the present generation accountable for failing to safeguard one of India’s most vital natural ecosystems.
