No new mining leases till Aravalli plan released: SC

The Supreme Court on Thursday ensured the continuity and integrity of the ecologically-fragile Aravalli hills and ranges by adopting a uniform definition for these hills and directed that no new mining leases will be issued till the Centre comes out with a sustainable mining plan for the region.

- Abraham Thomas

The court said this would be prepared by the ministry of environment, forests and climate change with the help of Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) to outline the permissible and non-permissible areas for mining, the carrying capacity of the region, and the post-mining restoration and rehabilitation measures.

It also adopted a uniform definition for Aravalli hills and ranges as proposed by an expert committee constituted by the Centre which said any landform with an elevation of 100 metres or more from the local relief measured from the most point on the boundary of the lowest contour line on the two hills.”

Additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati who appeared for Centre told the court that the “Aravali Green Wall Project” has been initiated for enhancing green cover in order to preserve the ecological importance of the Aravalli Ranges as India is party to the United Nations Convention on Combat Desertification, ratified in 1996. She stated that the committee’s definition of Aravalli hills will enable a larger area to be included.