Centre bans new mining leases in Aravallis following Supreme Court order
Guwahati: The government has imposed a complete ban on new mining leases in the Aravalli hills, following recent controversy over the rules defining the range.
This decision comes shortly after the Supreme Court ordered a freeze on new leases until a comprehensive Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) is prepared.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) stated that the ban aims to conserve and protect the entire Aravalli range, which stretches from Delhi to Gujarat, from illegal mining activities.
The prohibition applies across the whole landscape to maintain the ecological and geological integrity of the region.
The ministry has instructed the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) to identify additional zones in the Aravallis where mining should be prohibited, supplementing areas already off-limits based on environmental and geological considerations.
For mines currently in operation, state governments are required to ensure full compliance with environmental safeguards and the Supreme Court’s directives.
The decision follows the Supreme Court’s November 20 ruling in the TN Godavarman Thirumulpad vs Union of India case, which accepted a uniform scientific definition of the Aravalli hills proposed by a MoEF&CC committee.
The court ruled that no new mining leases should be granted until the MPSM is finalised. It noted the Aravallis’ role as a green barrier preventing the Thar desert’s eastward spread and recognized their biodiversity and climate significance.
While the court did not mandate a blanket ban on all mining, it emphasized that sustainable, science-based regulation is essential, including strict adherence to environmental safeguards for existing mine
The announcement comes amid debate and social media discussion claiming that the height-based definition, hills over 100 metres above local terrain and clustered within 500 metres, could allow mining on more than 90% of the Aravallis.
Environmentalists and opposition leaders have expressed concern that this excludes smaller hillocks critical for ecological connectivity.
The Aravallis, among the world’s oldest mountain ranges, span Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, providing essential protection against desertification and supporting groundwater recharge in the National Capital Region.