Hundreds of activists and members of the SFI gathered on 31 December 2025 at Harsh Parvat in Sikar to mark the organisation’s 56th founding day and to press a single demand: protect the Aravalli hills. What began as a commemorative event quickly turned into a sustained demonstration when participants marched to the district collectorate calling for an immediate halt to both legal and illegal mining in the fragile Aravalli range.
Aravalli conservation at the heart of the protest
The march was led by SFI functionaries and attended by scores of local volunteers, students and residents. Chanting slogans and carrying placards that read ‘Save Aravalli’ and ‘Environment Over Profit’, the procession traced a route from Harsh Parvat to the collectorate, where organisers submitted a memorandum demanding swift government action.
Speakers at the event highlighted the cumulative environmental damage caused by extensive quarrying in the hills, citing falling groundwater tables, loss of native vegetation and increasing soil erosion. They argued that authorised mining licences, when poorly regulated, contribute alongside illegal operations to the deterioration of a longstanding ecological barrier that protects neighbouring settlements.
“The Aravalli hills are not an inexhaustible resource,” one organiser said. “We require strict enforcement of existing laws, cancellation of dubious leases and a credible plan for ecological restoration.” Protesters urged the district administration to act on pending complaints and to set up an independent monitoring mechanism for mining activity.
Local residents who joined the march described how wells have been depleting and how seasonal streams have diminished in recent years. Several speakers linked the environmental decline to threats to agriculture, livestock and long-term water security, calling for investment in alternative livelihoods for those dependent on extractive industries.
Organisers also proposed practical measures, including temporary moratoriums on new mining leases, enforcement sweeps against illegal pits, reforestation of denuded slopes and community-led water conservation projects. They asked for transparent audits of existing mining permissions and for rehabilitation funds to be earmarked for affected villages.
The demonstration remained peaceful and disciplined throughout the march. Local police accompanied the procession to ensure public order and to facilitate the delivery of the memorandum. No clashes or arrests were reported during the event.
Environmental campaigners note that the Aravalli range plays a crucial role in sustaining local climate and ground water recharge in northern India. Conservationists say that even modest regulatory failures can accelerate irreversible degradation, making early intervention essential.
In response to the protest, the collectorate said officials had received the memorandum and would forward it to the appropriate state authorities for consideration. The administration indicated that it would review the outstanding complaints and examine steps to strengthen enforcement, though no immediate commitments were announced.
The SFI marked its 56th anniversary with calls for long-term policy changes rather than short-term fixes. As the new year begins, local activists say they will continue to press for formal steps to secure the Aravalli hills, combining legal petitions, public awareness campaigns and community-based restoration efforts to protect the landscape and the livelihoods that depend on it.
Key Takeaways:
- Aravalli conservation: Hundreds marched from Harsh Parvat to the collectorate in Sikar, marking SFI’s 56th anniversary and pressing for a halt to legal and illegal mining.
- Protesters demanded immediate enforcement to stop mining leases and stronger measures to protect groundwater, biodiversity and local livelihoods.
- Organisers urged local administration to act on restoration, stricter regulation and sustainable alternatives for affected communities.
