Centre Orders Complete Ban on New Mining Leases in Aravallis, Plans Expansion of Protected Zones.
New Delhi:
In a major conservation move, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has directed all States to impose a complete ban on granting any new mining leases across the entire Aravalli Range, which stretches from Delhi to Gujarat. The directive aims to preserve the integrity of this ecologically and geologically significant landscape and curb unregulated mining activities.
The MoEF&CC has also tasked the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) with identifying additional zones within the Aravallis where mining should be prohibited. This assessment will consider ecological sensitivity, geological features, and overall landscape-level conservation priorities. The findings will contribute to a comprehensive, science-based Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) for the region.
The MPSM will be made available for public consultation and will evaluate cumulative environmental impacts, determine ecological carrying capacity, and identify critical conservation areas. It will also propose measures for the restoration and rehabilitation of affected zones. The exercise is expected to significantly expand the coverage of protected areas within the Aravalli Range.
For existing mining operations, State Governments have been instructed to ensure strict compliance with environmental safeguards and Supreme Court directives. Ongoing mining activities will be closely monitored, with additional restrictions imposed to ensure sustainability and environmental protection.
The Centre reiterated its commitment to the long-term conservation of the Aravallis, emphasizing the range’s vital role in preventing desertification, conserving biodiversity, recharging aquifers, and providing critical ecosystem services for the region.
This decision marks a significant step toward safeguarding one of India’s oldest and most ecologically important mountain ranges, ensuring its protection for future generations.
