Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], December 21 (ANI): Samajwadi Party (SP) President Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday called for the protection of the Aravalli hills, following the Supreme Court's acceptance of the Centre's definition of the Aravalli hills on November 20.

The definition reportedly states that any hills in the range with an elevation of less than 100 metres are not subject to the strictures against mining.

In a post on social media platformX, Yadav emphasised that preserving the Aravalli hills is directly linked to Delhi's future, as the range functions as a natural shield for the Delhi-NCR region. He said the hills play a crucial role in reducing air pollution, regulating the city's temperature, and maintaining biodiversity.

He asserted that if the Aravallis survive, Delhi will remain lush and green, stressing that saving the hills is not merely an option but a national resolve.

'Dear Residents of Delhi, If the Aravalli survives, Delhi will remain lush and green! Saving the Aravalli is not an option but a resolve. Do not forget that only if the Aravalli is saved will the NCR be saved. Saving the Aravalli is imperative because it serves as a natural shield--or rather, a God-given barrier--for Delhi and the NCR. Only the Aravalli can bring back the stars that have vanished from Delhi's skies and protect the environment. The Aravalli mountain range alone reduces Delhi's air pollution and plays a vital role in rainfall and water. The biodiversity of the NCR survives only because of the Aravalli. The wetlands that are disappearing one by one can be saved by it alone. It can bring back the birds that are vanishing. The temperature of the NCR is regulated by the Aravalli alone. Moreover, there is an emotional attachment to the Aravalli that is part of Delhi's cultural and historical heritage. Saving the Aravalli means saving Delhi's future; otherwise, Delhi's residents, who are already struggling to take every breath, will never escape the deadly conditions of smog,' wrote Yadav.

Further, Akhilesh Yadav highlighted the impact of pollution in the national capital, warning that if the situation continues, Delhi could lose its significance as the largest market and economic hub of North India. He therefore appealed to everyone to become part of the 'Save Aravalli' campaign.

Earlier, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday launched a sharp attack against the Centre over the change in the definition of the Aravalli hills range, calling it a 'death warrant' for the hills.

Congress shared an excerpt from Gandhi's article in a national daily, which said, 'The Aravalli range, which runs from Gujarat through Rajasthan and till Haryana, has long played a significant role in Indian geography and history. The Modi Government has now nearly signed a death warrant for these hills, already denuded by illegal mining. It has been declared that any hills in the range with an elevation of less than 100 metres are not subject to the strictures against mining.

'It is an open invitation for illegal miners and mafia to finish off 90 per cent of the range which falls below the height limit set by the Government. There is a deep-seated and continuing disregard for the environment in government policymaking,' the X post said.

Further, she flagged deforestation and the eviction of local communities from forests as a 'breach of the spirit of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.'

The Congress leader demanded policy-level change, asking the Centre to roll back amendments to the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, and the Forest Conservation Rules, 2022.

Earlier, on November 20, the Supreme Court bench headed by former Chief Justice of India BR Gavai pronounced an order accepting the definition of the Aravalli hills and ranges as per the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

The apex court also accepted the recommendations for sustainable mining in the Aravalli Hills and the steps to be taken for preventing illegal mining.

The three-judge bench directed the ministry to prepare a Management Plant for Sustainable Mining (MPSM), to 'identify permissible areas for mining, ecologically sensitive, conservation-critical and restoration-priority areas within the Aravali landscape where mining shall be strictly prohibited or permitted only under exceptional and scientifically justified circumstances; incorporate a thorough analysis of cumulative environmental impacts and the ecological carrying 15 capacity of the region; and include detailed post-mining restoration and rehabilitation measures.' (ANI)