New Aravalli definition only for mining, not real estate: Centre

The Centre's new definition of the Aravalli hills will be applied only to mining and not other sectors, including real estate or development projects, Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav said on Monday, as activists escalated their criticism of the move that they said would further endanger the fragile range.

- Jayashree Nandi

“This definition related to the Aravalli hills is applicable only for mining purposes. It will be used solely in the context of mining. Mining is permitted only in 277.89sqkm out of the 143,577sqkm of the Aravalli area,” Yadav said as he addressed a press briefing on the notification for a successive day, amid the swirling pushback.

A central government panel in November defined landforms rising at least 100 metres above the local relief as Aravalli hills, a definition the Supreme Court accepted during a November 20 hearing. “Local relief” means the elevation difference between the hill and its surrounding base area. The definition also defines the Aravalli range as two or more hills within 500m of each other.

Environmentalists and opposition parties have criticised the definition, alleging it will free up vast chunks of the mountain range for exploitation.