Centre Bans New Mining Leases in Aravalli Hills
The Centre said this exercise would expand the extent of protected and prohibited zones across the Aravallis, keeping in view local topography, ecology and biodiversity.
New Delhi: Amid ongoing protests demanding protection of the Aravalli hills, the Centre on Wednesday imposed a complete ban on the grant of new mining leases and reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the entire mountain range stretching from Delhi to Gujarat.
The intervention comes against the backdrop of changes in the classification of the Aravallis for mining purposes, which had triggered widespread criticism. Recently, the Forest Survey of India introduced a criterion permitting mining activities in areas below 100 metres in height, raising serious concerns over the ecological safety of the fragile hill range.
In response to the uproar, the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change directed the concerned States to enforce a blanket ban on new mining leases across the Aravalli region.
“The Government is fully committed to the long-term protection of the Aravalli ecosystem, recognising its critical role in conserving biodiversity. Mining activities in the Aravallis will be regulated stringently to ensure environmental protection,” the ministry said in a statement.
Environment ministry officials said the prohibition would apply uniformly across the entire Aravalli landscape to preserve the integrity of the continuous geological ridge extending from Gujarat to the National Capital Region. The directive aims to halt unregulated mining and protect the ecological continuity of the hills.
The ministry has also directed the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) to identify additional areas across the Aravalli range where mining should be prohibited, beyond the zones already notified by the Centre. This exercise will be based on ecological, geological and landscape-level considerations.
ICFRE has been tasked with preparing a comprehensive, science-based Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) for the entire Aravalli region. The plan, to be placed in the public domain for stakeholder consultation, will assess cumulative environmental impacts and ecological carrying capacity, identify sensitive and conservation-critical areas, and propose measures for restoration and rehabilitation.
The Centre said this exercise would expand the extent of protected and prohibited zones across the Aravallis, keeping in view local topography, ecology and biodiversity.
For mines that are already operational, the ministry directed State governments to ensure strict compliance with all environmental safeguards and adherence to Supreme Court orders. Ongoing mining activities will be regulated more stringently, with additional restrictions to promote sustainable mining practices.
“The Government of India remains fully committed to the long-term protection of the Aravalli ecosystem, recognising its vital role in preventing desertification, conserving biodiversity, recharging aquifers and providing critical environmental services to the region,” the ministry added.