Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday accused the Modi government of showing a “venal streak of cynicism” toward environmental protection since coming to power and warned that it has “nearly signed a death warrant” for the Aravalli hills. She called on the government to repeal amendments it had “bulldozed” through Parliament in the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, and the Forest Conservation Rules (2022).

Gandhi criticized the government’s declaration that hills in the Aravalli range under 100 meters are exempt from mining restrictions, saying it invites illegal mining and threatens 90% of the range. She highlighted the ecological, historical, and cultural significance of the Aravalli range, which stretches from Gujarat through Rajasthan to Haryana, acting as a barrier to desertification, protecting historic forts, and fostering spiritual communities.

Pointing to worsening pollution in northern India, Gandhi noted that Delhi’s smog season exposes millions to toxic air, contributing to an estimated 34,000 deaths annually in ten cities. She also cited alarming uranium contamination in groundwater in Delhi, Punjab, and Haryana, warning of serious public health consequences.

According to Gandhi, these issues are linked to a decade of government neglect of environmental protection. She criticized the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2023, for exempting large categories of land and projects from forest clearance rules, and alleged that other policies—including the Draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) 2020 and the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification 2018—have weakened environmental safeguards and prioritized commercial interests over ecological and community needs.

Gandhi accused the government of turning environmental protection against local communities, citing claims by the Forest Survey of India and National Tiger Conservation Authority to evict thousands of families from tiger reserves. She called for an urgent national effort to halt large-scale deforestation, illegal mining in the Aravalli range and other ecologically sensitive regions, and the destruction of Himalayan mountains. Gandhi urged a policy review of the last decade’s laws and demanded the withdrawal of amendments that allow forest clearance without consultation with affected communities. She also condemned the practice of granting post-facto environmental clearances to corporations that violate environmental laws.