Supreme Court Clarifies Aravalli Boundaries, Regulates Mining

Brief Context

Context The Supreme Court, in a recent order, settled on a uniform definition of the Aravalli hills and ranges, and paused the grant of fresh mining leases across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. Significance of the Aravalli Range The Aravalli Range, stretching over approximately 692 kilometres (430 miles) in a northeastern direction, traverses the Indian states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Haryana before culminating in Delhi, is the oldest mountain range in India. Rajasthan accounts for ne

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Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• The Supreme Court, in a recent order, settled on a uniform definition of the Aravalli hills and ranges, and paused the grant of fresh mining leases across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.

Significance of the Aravalli Range

• The Aravalli Range, stretching over approximately 692 kilometres (430 miles) in a northeastern direction, traverses the Indian states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Haryana before culminating in Delhi, is the oldest mountain range in India.
  • Rajasthan accounts for nearly two-thirds of the mountain range.
• It acts as a critical ecological barrier preventing the eastward expansion of the Thar Desert into Haryana, Rajasthan, and western Uttar Pradesh.
• The Aravallis support water-recharge systems and are the source of rivers such as the Sabarmati and Luni.
• The region is rich in minerals including sandstone, limestone, marble, granite, lead, zinc, copper, gold, and tungsten.

Actions taken against mining

• In May 2024, the Court prohibited the grant and renewal of mining leases across the Aravalli range and directed the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to conduct a detailed review.
• The CEC in its 2024 report recommended:
  • Absolute prohibition of mining in ecologically sensitive zones such as protected habitats, water bodies, tiger corridors, aquifer recharge areas, and the National Capital Region.
  • Strict regulation of stone-crushing units.
  • A moratorium on new leases and renewals until mapping and impact assessments are completed.
  • The uniform definition of the Aravalli Hills and Ranges.

New Definition of the Aravallis

• Any landform that is at an elevation of 100 m or more above the local relief will be considered as part of Aravalli Hills along with its slopes and adjacent land.
• By this definition 90% of the Aravali Hills will not be counted as Aravalli anymore.
• Area excluded: The ministry’s list of 34 Aravalli districts across four states left out many districts with an established presence of Aravalli. 

Way Ahead

• Accepting the 100-m height definition, the SC has asked the ministry to develop a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining with the help of Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) for the Aravalli Hills under the new definition.

Source: TH