New Delhi – The Supreme Court (SC) today issued a significant directive aimed at curbing illegal and indiscriminate mining in the Aravalli range, which spans across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi-NCR.
In an unprecedented move, a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan R. Gavai ordered the Central government to prepare a comprehensive Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) for the entire Aravalli range and, crucially, barred all states from issuing any new mining leases until this plan is officially finalized.
🛑 Key Directives by the Supreme Court
- Uniform Definition Mandated: The SC accepted the uniform definition for Aravalli Hills and Ranges provided by the expert-led Central Empowered Committee (CEC). The lack of a single definition was cited as a major reason for unchecked, illegal mining.
- Ban on New Leases: Until the MPSM is completed and adopted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) through the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), no new mining leases shall be granted by any state.
- Sustainable Mining Plan (MPSM): The plan will be prepared by the MoEF&CC/ICFRE and must identify:
- Permissible areas for mining.
- Ecologically sensitive, conservation-critical, and restoration-priority areas where mining will be strictly prohibited (core/inviolate areas).
- Post-mining restoration and rehabilitation measures.
- A thorough analysis of cumulative environmental impacts and ecological carrying capacity.
- Existing Mining: The court allowed existing, legally operating mining leases to continue, but only strictly as per law. The eventual goal is to allow mining only in areas where the MPSM permits sustainable practices.
📐 The New, Uniform Definition
The SC formally adopted the following uniform definitions proposed by the CEC to end inter-state discrepancies:
- Aravalli Hills: Any landform in the Aravalli districts with an elevation of 100 metres or more from the local relief, along with its supporting slopes and associated landforms.
- Aravalli Range: Defined as two or more Aravalli Hills located within a proximity of 500 metres from each other.
🌳 Protecting the ‘Green Barrier’
The court underscored the immense ecological significance of the Aravalli ecosystem, calling it a “green barrier” that is rich in biodiversity, influences the climate across North India, and contains vital wildlife sanctuaries, tiger reserves, wetlands, and aquifers. The decision comes in response to concerns over large-scale illegal mining and a 2018 report that pointed to the disappearance of 31 hillocks across thousands of sites in Rajasthan and Haryana.