Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Dec 3: Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday sharply criticized the Central government, alleging that its recent amendments to forest and environmental laws have put India’s ecological heritage, particularly the Aravalli hills, in grave danger. Gandhi accused the government of a “venal streak of cynicism” toward environmental protection and warned that its policies have “nearly signed a death warrant” for the centuries-old Aravalli range.

Gandhi expressed deep concern over the government’s decision to exempt hills under 100 metres in elevation from mining restrictions, cautioning that this loophole could allow illegal mining and exploitation of almost 90 per cent of the Aravalli range, which spans Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Haryana. She said the hills, historically significant as natural barriers against desertification and home to forts such as Chittorgarh and Ranthambore, now face a severe threat.

Highlighting the wider environmental crisis, Gandhi pointed out Delhi’s worsening air quality and rising pollution levels, alongside groundwater contamination in Delhi, Punjab, and Haryana, which in some areas now exceeds permissible uranium limits. She described the situation as a “full-scale, slow-motion public health tragedy” and linked it to a broader pattern of environmental negligence by the government.

Gandhi further criticized recent legislative changes, including the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2023, and draft notifications like the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) 2020, claiming these measures weaken public participation, ease environmental clearances, and prioritize corporate interests over ecological balance. She also condemned the practice of granting post-facto environmental clearances, calling it a dangerous precedent that undermines law and policy.

Calling for urgent corrective action, Gandhi demanded that the government withdraw the amendments and halt ongoing deforestation and illegal mining across the country, including the Aravallis, Western Ghats, and Himalayan regions. She stressed the need for a comprehensive policy review to restore environmental safeguards and protect vulnerable communities dependent on forests and natural resources.

Sonia Gandhi’s remarks underline the growing concern over environmental governance in India and the urgent need for policies that balance development with ecological sustainability.