Sunday Baithak in Gurugram: Citizens Unite to Save the Aravallis

Gustakhi Maaf Haryana- Pawan Kumar Bansal

Instead of enjoying holiday Aravali Bachao activists of Gurugram today met in severe cold and took pledge for saving Aravalis lung of NCR.

Conversations – Sunday Baithak with Aravalli Bachao Citizens Movement

The gathering had concerned Aravalli Lovers — Parents, Seniors , Children from all over NCR who came to join in for yet another Sunday Baithak, at the Suncity Forest in Gurgaon.

“No defining away our ecosystems!” , read the poster of invitation ! The morning was a baithak in the real sense with a few pieces of soul-stirring poetry and a role-play enactment with volunteers acting as Government and Courts giving their reasoning and Citizens giving the rebuttals. Additionally, a group of Children from marginalised background also did a poetry recitation.

The small and large posters were not just a call to action, but also urging our Judiciary and elected Representatives, to recognize the folly of policy and decision-making, because for Aravallis & all Life in our NCR Cities it is a sure-shot crisis.

Additionally, Gauri Arora shared her personal connect with the Aravallis asking—“Do people think they are insulated from the destruction of the Aravalli Forest and that air and water purifiers will see them through? There is an urgent need to protect our Aravallis ! We are here to put the spotlight on the series of challenges facing our Aravalli forests.”

The participants got clarity on the issue of Aravallis Definition and the subsequent Supreme Court order on 29th Dec that put the previous SC order regarding definition of 20th Dec in abeyance.

It May be recalled that on Nov 20 2025, the Supreme Court accepted the recommendations of a Union Environment Ministry panel on the definition of Aravalli Hills ostensibly to restrict mining: i.e. Only a landform that is at an elevation of 100 m or more above the local relief will be considered as part of Aravalli Hills along with its slopes and adjacent land.
And this was followed by another SC order putting the previous one in abeyance.

“We citizens are aware that these developments emanating from SC judgements and Ministry notifications will surely have severe environmental ramifications, so now we ask for Comprehensive restoration of all 76,000 sq.km. Of Aravallis, instead of Definitions and Sustainable Mining Plan! ” said Shivani Yaduvanshi, development communications practitioner and volunteer with Aravalli Bachao.

Iqbal Khan Amrohvi, who has been riding his scooter from Amroha (UP) across Rajasthan and Haryana, and back to Uttar Pradesh, also joined the Baithak. He related incidents of his travels and sharing about Aravalli issues with different communities along the way!

“The Aravallis are a living system that has supported health and wellness of this region for centuries and we need to educate our children in ways of the forest ,” said Pankaj whose life‘s goal is correct native plantation in the Aravallis.

Dr. Kumpal an educator expressed her dismay through her poem on Aravallis .and added— “I want to express respect for those who are participating in the Aravalli Bachao campaign and they are the torchbearers of hope for us.”

Dr Parul Sharma who prioritised her participation, explained to the gathering ,”we are surely headed towards a health crisis with AQIs in NCR going to 900. How are we seeing a future for citizens who are suffering the consequences of living in high levels of pollution.”

“Recognising the power of community-based action, is so important!” contributed Akshay Khurana who works on Zero-waste activities. “ The Aravallis must be declared as a protected UNESCO Biosphere.”

Nancy Godara a young woman attended the Baithak because of deep concern about the state of the city she lives in. “The Aravallis are the enablers of life. Every hectare destroyed pushes Gurgaon closer to extreme environmental instability.”

Aravallis is a biosphere spread over 76000 sq kms which must be protected at all cost and is also a 35000 sq kms catchment area protected by the 2016 Ganga Protection Order.

At the end of the event, Aravalli Bachao team invited all to join their efforts to secure the health of the Aravallis to safeguard the health of humans and biodiversity— and the gathering read out Demands of the People:
1. STOP ALL mining completely across Aravalli Biosphere by 26 January 2026
2. STOP all construction activity of any kind, until air quality levels come to AQI 50 by 26 January 2026
3. STOP all Coal-Fired Power Plants not meeting international Clean Emissions Standards by 26 January 2026 until AQI 50 is achieved
4. ⁠Ban WTEs
5. Long Term: Make all urban public transport facilities free of cost so that use of private vehicles / paid taxis is reduced
6. Increase taxation of private transport by at least 300% so that it offsets the budget needed for huge enhancement of public transport facilities across India’s Urban Sector.