Udaipur Declaration on Aravalli Conservation Presented Before Supreme Court Committee
Declaration calls for scientific protection of Aravalli landscape, responsible mining and ‘Conservation Before Conversion’
Udaipur, The Udaipur Declaration on the Conservation, Revitalization & Sustainable Development of the Aravalli Landscape was presented before the Supreme Court Committee on Monday, August 10, putting forward a comprehensive framework for the long-term conservation, ecological restoration and sustainable development of the Aravalli range.
The declaration was adopted at the National Round Table on “Aravalli Hill Range: From Conflict to Collaboration for Ecological, Cultural & Hydrological Conservation and Sustainable Mining”, held in Udaipur on May 5, 2026. The document was submitted by Dr. Anil Mehta.
The declaration describes the Aravalli Range as one of the oldest surviving hill systems on Earth and emphasises that the Aravallis are not merely a chain of hills, but a continuous geological, ecological, hydrological and civilizational landscape. It highlights their critical role in biodiversity conservation, forests, rivers, wetlands, groundwater recharge, climate resilience and the livelihoods of millions of people across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi.
Scientific basis for defining Aravalli Hills
A key recommendation of the declaration is that the Aravalli Hills should be identified through accepted principles of geomorphology rather than relying solely on elevation or local relief.
The proposed approach includes geological structure, geomorphic evolution, ridge morphology, watershed characteristics, ecological connectivity and terrain configuration. The declaration stresses that the Aravalli system should be recognised on the basis of its geological continuity rather than fragmented administrative boundaries or arbitrary elevation thresholds.
No separate definition for real estate development
The declaration strongly opposes the creation of a narrower or artificial definition of Aravalli hills for facilitating real estate, tourism or urban development.
It states that cutting hills, levelling ridges and altering natural slopes for resorts, hotels, multi-storey complexes and other commercial developments is incompatible with the ecological integrity and landscape character of the Aravallis.
It calls for no hill, ridge or ecologically significant Aravalli landform to be cut, levelled, fragmented or substantially altered for real estate development.
Water security at the centre of conservation
The declaration identifies the Aravallis as “Bharat’s western water towers”, highlighting their importance for groundwater recharge, watershed protection, rivers, lakes and wetlands, as well as flood moderation and drought resilience.
It also calls for the Aravallis to be managed as a single ecological network, giving priority to wildlife corridors, ridge systems, forests, wetlands, aquifers and watershed linkages.
Traditional tribal knowledge to be recognised
The declaration gives special importance to the role of Bhil, Garasia and other indigenous communities in conserving the ecological and cultural heritage of the Aravallis.
It calls for recognition and protection of traditional practices such as Gavari and Magra Bavji Pooja, along with customary access, livelihoods and meaningful participation of tribal communities in conservation, restoration and resource-management decisions.
The document also states that major policy matters affecting Scheduled Tribes and their traditional landscapes should involve meaningful consultation with the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) in accordance with Article 338A(9) of the Constitution.
Responsible and sustainable mining proposed
While recognising minerals as important national assets, the declaration stresses that mineral occurrence, potential and economic viability must be established through sound geological investigation.
As a policy benchmark, it proposes that the cumulative mining footprint within the delineated Aravalli hill landscape should ordinarily remain within 3–5 per cent. Mining should be based on site-specific geological assessment and cumulative landscape-level impact assessment.
The declaration further calls for mining activities to avoid ecologically sensitive areas, critical watersheds, groundwater recharge zones, wildlife corridors, geoheritage sites and culturally significant landscapes. It also emphasises environmental monitoring, resource efficiency, recycling, circular economy practices, occupational health and safety and measurable ecological restoration.
Sensitive areas proposed as ‘No-Go Areas’
The declaration recommends that continuous ridge systems, forests, wildlife corridors, groundwater recharge zones, major watersheds, lake catchments, sacred landscapes and geoheritage sites be designated as No-Go Areas for mining and other irreversible land-use changes, including real estate development.
Call for ‘Dev Aravali Abhiyan’
The declaration proposes the establishment of the Dev Aravali Abhiyan — Dedicated Actions for Revitalizing Aravali as a multi-stakeholder movement involving governments, scientific institutions, industries, civil society, educational institutions, tribal communities, youth organisations and citizens.
The proposed campaign would focus on ecological restoration, watershed rejuvenation, biodiversity conservation, citizen science, cultural revival, responsible mining and sustainable livelihoods.
It also calls for a shift from the existing “4M Paradigm — Meter, Map, Mining and Money” towards a new framework based on Science, Society, Spirituality and Stewardship, with conservation and development working in harmony.
Independent Aravalli Commission proposed
The declaration calls upon the Central Government to prepare an Integrated Aravalli Landscape Conservation Policy based on geological continuity, ecological integrity, watershed security, biodiversity conservation, sustainable mining, cultural heritage and community stewardship.
It also recommends the constitution of an Independent Aravalli Commission comprising experts and representatives from the Geological Survey of India, Survey of India, ISRO, Forest Survey of India, Central Ground Water Board, Central Water Commission, NCST Commission, relevant wildlife and tribal institutions, universities, civil society and local communities.
The proposed commission would develop scientifically robust criteria for delineating, managing and conserving the Aravalli Landscape, while also consulting responsible mining organisations and industry bodies on sustainable mining, mineral resource efficiency, mine closure and ecological restoration.
‘Conservation Before Conversion’ becomes the central message
The declaration concludes with a strong call for “Conservation Before Conversion”, stating that the Aravallis should not be treated merely as hills to be measured, mapped, mined or monetised.
Instead, they are described as a living geological, ecological and cultural heritage landscape that must be understood, protected, restored and responsibly stewarded.
The declaration stresses that the Aravallis should not have one definition for conservation and another for development, and that every land-use change should safeguard their geological continuity, ecological integrity, hydrological functions, biodiversity and cultural values.
The Udaipur Declaration thus places scientific assessment, ecological security, responsible resource utilisation, community participation and sustainable development at the centre of the future management of the Aravalli landscape.
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