SC: No final permission for mining be granted by 4 states till further orders

The Aravallis have to be protected, the Supreme Court said on Thursday and directed Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat to not accord final permission for mining activities in the hill range until further orders.

The bench said its order shall in no way be construed as prohibiting legal mining activities which are already being carried out in accordance with valid permits and licences.

"We are passing this order for all the four states (through which the hill range runs," a bench of Justices B R Gavai and A S Oka said. It made it clear that the order is restricted only to mining in the Aravalli hills and its ranges.

"Until further orders, though all the states wherein Aravalli ranges are situated would be at liberty to consider and process application for grant of mining leases... and also for renewal thereof, no final permission shall be granted for mining in the Aravalli hills as defined in the FSI (Forest Survey of India) report...," the bench said.