Jaipur: The central government on Wednesday took a major step towards the conservation of the entire Aravalli mountain range, which stretches from Delhi to Gujarat. The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued directives to all state governments to stop illegal mining in the Aravalli region and protect its ecological balance. Under these directives, a complete ban has been imposed on the issuance of any new mining leases in the Aravalli region.
According to the ministry, this ban will apply uniformly across the entire Aravalli landscape. The aim is to maintain the integrity of the Aravalli mountain range and preserve it as a continuous geological chain. The center says that it is necessary to effectively curb irregular and illegal mining activities in the Aravalli range, which extends from Gujarat to the National Capital Region. Expansion of Protected Areas, Plan for Sustainable Mining: The central government has directed the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) to identify additional protected zones and areas throughout the Aravalli region. The process of identifying ecologically, geologically, and geomorphologically sensitive areas and imposing mining bans there will be expedited. New areas will also be brought under the purview of conservation, in addition to the already restricted areas.
The ministry has directed ICFRE to prepare a comprehensive, science-based ‘Management Plan for Sustainable Mining’ for the entire Aravalli region. This plan will include cumulative environmental impact assessment, ecological carrying capacity assessment, identification of sensitive and conservation-worthy areas, as well as restoration and rehabilitation measures. This plan will also be made public for wider public consultation. Strict Monitoring of Existing Mines: The center has clarified that in the mines that are already operational, the concerned state governments will have to strictly enforce all environmental safety measures in accordance with the orders of the Supreme Court. Ongoing mining activities will be strictly regulated with additional restrictions to ensure environmental protection and sustainable mining. The central government said that it is fully committed to the long-term conservation of the Aravalli ecosystem. The Aravalli range plays a crucial role in preventing desertification, conserving biodiversity, replenishing water resources, and providing vital environmental services to the region. Ashok Gehlot’s counter-attack: Meanwhile, former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has questioned the central government’s claims. Sharing a copy of the Supreme Court’s judgment on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Gehlot alleged that the ban on new mining leases in the Aravalli range is not a new initiative, but merely compliance with sub-point (v) of point 50 of the Supreme Court’s order. He said that the central government is promoting this only as “headline management,” while in reality, there is nothing new in it. Gehlot also stated that in the age of the internet, it is not easy to mislead the public, and the truth is evident to all.
