New Delhi:
The Centre has firmly rejected claims that the Aravalli hills are being opened up for large-scale mining, asserting that more than 90% of the Aravalli Range will continue to remain protected under a Supreme Court-approved framework. Officials said misinformation around a revised definition has fuelled unnecessary alarm.
The government clarified that a freeze on new mining leases remains in place until a comprehensive, landscape-level management plan is finalised, and only a tiny fraction of the region is even theoretically eligible for mining.
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What the Centre Says
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said the new definition—cleared by the Supreme Court of India—actually strengthens protection of the ancient mountain system.
“Stop spreading misinformation,” Yadav said, responding to criticism from opposition parties. According to him, mining eligibility is limited to just 0.19% of the Aravalli’s total area of around 1.44 lakh sq km, while the rest remains preserved and protected.
Why the 100-metre Rule Matters
Much of the controversy revolves around a technical clause defining an Aravalli hill as a landform rising 100 metres or more above local relief, and an Aravalli range as two or more such hills located within 500 metres of each other.
The Centre stressed that this does not mean land below 100 metres is open for mining. The restriction applies to the entire hill system, including enclosed and base areas, not just the visible peaks or slopes.
Officials said the revised definition removes long-standing ambiguity that earlier allowed mining dangerously close to hill bases in some states.
Supreme Court’s Role and Mining Freeze
The top court approved the recommendations of a high-level committee set up in May 2024 under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to bring uniformity across states.
Under the court’s directions:
- No new mining leases will be granted in the Aravalli region
- A Management Plan for Sustainable Mining must be prepared for the entire landscape
- Existing mines can operate only if they strictly follow sustainable mining norms
The plan will be prepared by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education.
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States, Safeguards and Core No-Go Zones
The committee included representatives from Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat and Delhi. It found that only Rajasthan had followed a clear definition since 2006, which is now being adopted uniformly with added safeguards.
These include:
- Treating hills within 500 metres as a single range
- Mandatory mapping using Survey of India data before any mining decision
- Identification of core and inviolate areas where mining is completely banned
Protected areas, eco-sensitive zones, tiger reserves, wetlands and nearby regions remain strictly off-limits. Limited exemptions may apply only for critical, strategic or deep-seated minerals in national interest.
Illegal Mining Remains the Bigger Threat
Government sources said legally approved mining currently covers a very small portion of Aravalli districts in Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat. Delhi, which has five Aravalli districts, allows no mining at all.
The bigger concern, officials admitted, is illegal and unregulated mining. To tackle this, the committee has recommended tighter enforcement, real-time monitoring and the use of technology such as drones and satellite surveillance.
Bottom Line
The Centre insists the new framework is about clarity and conservation—not dilution. With over 90% of the Aravalli region protected and new leases frozen, the government says the mountain range remains safeguarded, even as it moves to close loopholes that enabled misuse in the past.
