Sonia Gandhi Accuses Modi Government of Issuing ‘Death Warrant’ for Aravalli Hills

New Delhi: Congress Parliamentary Party leader Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of taking a “death warrant”-like step for the Aravalli Hills. In an article written for The Hindu, she highlighted that the government has granted mining exemptions for areas of the Aravalli range below 100 meters in height.

Aravalli Hills Already Severely Degraded
Gandhi pointed out that the Aravalli mountain range, stretching across Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Haryana, has historically played a significant role in India’s geography and heritage. She said, “The Modi government has effectively signed a near ‘death warrant’ for these hills, which were already severely degraded due to illegal mining. Any hill below 100 meters in height is now exempt from strict mining restrictions.”

She warned that this policy amounts to an open invitation for illegal miners and mafias to destroy nearly 90% of the range that falls below the government-specified height limit.

Government Policy Shows Deep Environmental Neglect
The former Congress president alleged that government policymaking demonstrates persistent and deep negligence toward environmental concerns. She also criticized the systematic weakening of the National Green Tribunal, stressing that it must be restored to its rightful authority and allowed to operate independently of government influence. Gandhi called for enhanced inter-governmental coordination to address environmental crises, citing groundwater uranium contamination in the National Capital Region as an example requiring a comprehensive, region-specific approach.

Policies Must Support Local Communities
Gandhi emphasized that India’s environmental policies should reflect cooperative federalism and respect for the rule of law. Policies should work with local communities, not against them, and be guided by a balanced understanding of environmental and human development. “Only with such an approach can we build a healthy and safe India,” she asserted.