India, Nov. 23 -- Two days after environmentalists termed a Supreme Court ruling on mining in the Aravallis a "turning point", experts on Saturday expressed concerns as well over the definition of the Aravallis.

The November 20 order, passed by a bench led by Chief Justice BR Gavai, accepts the Union environment ministry's recommendation to classify only landforms with a minimum elevation of 100 metres as part of the Aravalli hills. However, environmentalists say it could lead to exclusion of hundreds of smaller but ecologically vital hill systems across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi - potentially opening them for mining.

According to the apex court's ruling, hills meeting the 100-metre elevation criteria and lying within 500 me...