The Congress alleged that real estate development, apart from mining, being opened up by the double-engine government will cause further harm to the fragile Aravalli ecosystem. Congress general secretary and former environment minister Jairam Ramesh said this is being done against the recommendations of the Forest Survey of India

The Congress has accused the Centre of weakening environmental protection, claiming over 90 pc of the Aravallis may be opened to mining due to a new hill redefinition. He also accused the government of launching a determined assault on ecological balance by weakening environmental protection laws and loosening pollution norms