Let the Aravallis be

India needs an urgent rethink on forest cover

The remarks made by the Supreme Court while directing the Rajasthan government to immediately stop mining in the specified areas of the Aravalli hills are startling enough to merit serious consideration and appropriate remedial action. As many as 31 hills in the Rajasthan segment of the Aravallis have vanished, the court pointed out, taking note of the Forest Survey of India (FSI) report that confirmed continued illegal mining at more than 3,200 sites. The disappearance of these hills could be responsible for the rising pollution levels in Delhi, the court maintained. This is a telling comment on the state of