Supreme Court Upholds Aravalli Mining Ban, Directs Scientific Management Plan
The Supreme Court has validated the government's ban on new mining leases in the Aravalli Range, particularly in ecologically sensitive zones like Delhi-NCR, ensuring critical environmental protection. This decision mandates the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) to develop a scientific management plan, balancing conservation with regulated mining, and prevents illegal extraction. It safeguards essential ecosystems like tiger reserves and wetlands within the Aravallis, impacting air quality and water recharge for millions.
The Supreme Court has decisively upheld the ban on new mining leases across the Aravalli Range, particularly in ecologically sensitive regions like the Delhi-NCR. This landmark decision reinforces the government’s commitment to environmental protection and mandates the creation of a comprehensive scientific management plan to regulate future activities. It directly addresses concerns over unchecked mining and its impact on a vital ecosystem.
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav clarified that no new mining leases will be permitted in core, protected, and ecologically sensitive zones. This includes all tiger reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, wetlands, and CAMPA plantation sites within the Aravallis. The Supreme Court's order tasks the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) with developing a detailed Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM). This plan will identify permissible mining areas, assess the ecological capacity of these regions, and outline stringent post-mining restoration requirements.
The government's proactive stance aims to prevent illegal mining activities and aligns with its "Green Aravalli" mission. Notably, the court’s directive restricts any new mining leases solely to strategic and atomic minerals, ensuring that the vast majority of the Aravalli landscape remains protected. Concerns arose from a revised definition of the Aravalli range, which considers landforms 100 meters or higher above local relief as part of the range. However, Yadav emphasized that this redefinition supports ongoing conservation efforts and does not open up the region to widespread mining. Only a tiny fraction, about 0.19% of the nearly 1.5 lakh square kilometers designated as Aravalli, is even potentially eligible for mining, focusing on specific landform characteristics.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has confirmed this nationwide prohibition, which applies uniformly from Delhi to Gujarat, safeguarding the Aravalli range as a continuous geological entity. This move, stemming from a November 2023 Supreme Court judgment, highlights the Aravallis’ crucial role as a "green barrier" against desertification and a critical water recharge zone. While existing mining operations must adhere to strict environmental safeguards, the overarching goal is to achieve a balance between conservation and sustainable resource management, ensuring that this invaluable natural heritage is preserved for future generations.
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