Guwahati: Deputy Leader of the Lok Sabha and senior Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday expressed serious concern over the proposed redefinition of the Aravalli mountain range. He warned that such a move could worsen air pollution, increase heat-related risks, trigger ecological damage and affect communities living in the region.
In a post on X, Gogoi underlined the historical and environmental importance of the Aravallis, one of the world’s oldest mountain ranges, stretching about 650 km from Delhi to Gujarat and believed to be around 3.2 billion years old.
He said unplanned and rampant development has already damaged the fragile Aravalli ecosystem. He added that this ecological imbalance has contributed to climate impacts on agriculture, higher air pollution and public health concerns, especially in the National Capital Region and nearby areas.
Gogoi said poor enforcement of environmental rules has weakened ecological protection. He pointed out that loose regulations have allowed unchecked mining, construction and deforestation.
He cautioned that redefining the Aravallis could dilute environmental safeguards further, leading to rising pollution levels, stronger heatwaves and long-term socio-economic hardships for dependent communities.
Gogoi urged policymakers to show restraint and rethink decisions that could cause irreversible harm to the environment. His remarks come amid growing debate over land use, environmental clearances and conservation norms linked to the Aravalli range, which acts as a shield against desertification and pollution.
Experts have long said the Aravallis help regulate climate, recharge groundwater and function as a green lung for northwestern India. Gogoi’s statement adds political weight to concerns that development-focused policies may risk long-term ecological and public health security.