In December 2025, young men in Haryana's Nuh district struggled to light a bonfire outside an Aadhaar centre due to dust from frequent trucks. These trucks belong to the mining mafia illegally cutting the Aravalli hills, said Kasim Khan, a local elder. The Aravalli hills stretch across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat and were protected by a 2009 Supreme Court ban on mining in Haryana's Faridabad, Gurugram, and Nuh districts. Despite the ban, trucks continue mining activities illegally. The Supreme Court on November 20, 2025, upheld a new definition by the Union Environment Ministry that only hills rising above 100 metres are protected. This change lowers protections for many smaller hills, alarming environmentalists who say it risks reckless mining. After protests, the Court stayed the order on December 29, requesting a high-powered committee to study the impact of sustainable or regulated mining. Local residents like Rajuddin Meo say mining has lowered water levels and hurt agriculture and livestock, threatening villagers' survival. Illegal mining jobs cause danger and low income, as explained by workers like Arshad, who earns just ₹400-500 a day. In Rajasthan's Kotputli district, 145-day protests against mining show widespread distress. Residents face damaged homes, dust pollution, and health issues like respiratory diseases. Despite mining companies' presence, locals feel exploited and sidelined. Environmental groups demand the entire Aravalli range be declared an ecologically sensitive zone. They seek a full impact study on mining, real estate, and pollution effects. Activists and villagers continue to protest, holding placards and seeking government action to save the hills. Mahesh Yadav, a retired vet, encouraged protestors, comparing their fight to past human rights struggles. Environmentalist Kailash Meena said India must protect its natural resources for all citizens, not just the wealthy few. He warned that only a crisis in Delhi would make authorities understand the hardship faced by hill communities.