Supreme Court Clarifies Aravalli Boundaries, Regulates Mining

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