Government cites Supreme Court order to reject Aravalli mining push charge

The central government has firmly rejected allegations that it altered the definition of the Aravalli hills to permit mining activities, stating that a Supreme Court order has effectively frozen the granting of new mining leases in the region unless a comprehensive and scientifically vetted management plan is finalised.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the government said the apex court has clearly directed authorities to adopt uniform criteria to protect the Aravalli range, warning that unchecked mining could pose a “serious threat to the country’s ecology.” The clarification comes amid growing concerns and protests by environmental groups over the perceived dilution of safeguards for one of India’s oldest mountain ranges.

Supreme Court-mandated committee and uniform definition

The government pointed out that in May last year, the Supreme Court constituted a high-level committee to recommend a uniform definition of the Aravalli hills, citing inconsistencies in how different states classified and regulated the region. The committee was chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and included representatives from Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat.

According to the government, the committee proposed several enhancements to existing definitions to strengthen environmental protection. These include marking the Aravalli hills clearly on Survey of India maps before any mining-related activity is even considered and ensuring precise identification of core or inviolate zones, where mining would be strictly prohibited.

Key recommendations to protect the Aravallis

The government said the committee recommended a clear, objective and scientifically robust criterion to determine local relief and hill structures, ensuring uniform application across all states and full protection of the hill landform up to its base.

Among the notable recommendations:

• Hills located within 500 metres of each other should be treated as a single range and protected accordingly.
• Clear demarcation of areas where mining is permanently banned.
• Detailed guidelines to enable sustainable mining, where permitted, while preventing ecological damage.
• Stronger mechanisms to curb illegal mining, including enhanced monitoring and enforcement.

Mining footprint remains minimal, government claims

To counter claims of widespread legal mining, the government said district-level analysis across Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat shows that officially approved mining covers only about 0.19 per cent of the total geographical area of the 37 Aravalli districts combined. Delhi, which has five districts falling under the Aravalli region, does not permit any mining activity at all, it added.

Illegal mining remains the biggest threat

The government acknowledged that the primary threat to the Aravallis continues to be illegal and unregulated mining, rather than sanctioned projects. To address this, the committee has recommended the use of advanced technology such as drones, satellite imagery and real-time surveillance, along with stricter enforcement at the district and state levels.

Additional context: Why the Aravallis matter

The Aravalli range, stretching across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi, is one of the oldest mountain systems in the world and plays a crucial role in:

• Preventing desertification in northwestern India
• Recharging groundwater
• Acting as a natural barrier against dust storms
• Supporting biodiversity and forest cover

Environmentalists have long warned that degradation of the Aravallis could worsen air pollution in Delhi-NCR, intensify water scarcity and accelerate climate-related impacts.

By invoking the Supreme Court’s directives, the government has sought to reassure stakeholders that environmental safeguards remain intact, even as debates over development, mining and conservation continue.