The Supreme Court’s recent judgment has set off alarm bells for nature lovers and residents of Delhi-NCR! The court accepted a new height-based definition of the famous Aravalli hills, pushed by the Union environment ministry. Only hills that are at least 100 meters tall from the local ground will now be officially called Aravallis – and this rule applies especially to mining activities. Why does this matter? The Aravalli range is a lifeline for Delhi-NCR, stretching over seven districts in southern Haryana. Though Haryana’s Aravallis cover about one lakh hectares, that’s just a tiny slice compared to Rajasthan’s massive 40 lakh hectares. Until now, the ministry’s 1992 Aravalli Notification controlled what people can do in these hills, focusing on areas called "gair mumkin pahar" — which means rocky hills, sandy foothills, and grasslands in local revenue terms. Sadly, this new height limit is causing worry. Experts fear it will break the Aravalli range into smaller pieces. What’s worse? It may open the gates wide for mining and real estate companies to dig and build, threatening the fragile ecology of the hills. These hills are not just beautiful; they protect the environment and support the water and air quality of the region. If the court and the ministry stand by this height rule, the Aravallis could end up weakened and fragmented. That means fewer protections and more damage to this ancient mountain range. Can India afford to lose these green guardians to short-term profits? That’s the big question hanging over Delhi-NCR today!