Today, 9th May, The Supreme Court prohibited four states; Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, and Delhi from granting mining permissions in the Aravalli Hills region. This decision stems from environmental concerns, aiming to protect the fragile ecosystem and prevent further degradation caused by mining activities. The Aravalli range plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance and groundwater recharge, making its conservation imperative for sustainable development in the region.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court, On Thursday, emphasized the need to protect the Aravallis and issued a directive to the states of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
The court ordered,
“No final permission should be granted for mining activities in the Aravalli hill range until further notice. “
However, it clarified that the order does not prohibit legal mining activities that are already being conducted in compliance with valid permits and licenses.
Read Also: Supreme Court Orders Action Against Officials Allowing Illegal Mining in Aravalli
The bench, consisting of Justices B.R. Gavai and A.S. Oka, stated,
“The order applies to all four states through which the Aravalli hills extend. It specifically pertains to mining in the Aravalli hills and its ranges.”
The court further stated,
“While the states can consider and process applications for mining leases and renewals in the Aravalli ranges, no final permission should be granted for mining in the defined Aravalli hills as per the Forest Survey of India (FSI) report, until further instructions.”
The Supreme Court acknowledged the existence of issues related to illegal mining and mining activities conducted under state-approved permissions. One of the key concerns highlighted was the varying definitions of the Aravalli hills and ranges adopted by different states.
According to the court, the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) submitted a report highlighting various instances of illegal mining across Rajasthan. The report also provided district-wise details regarding the extent of illegal mining activities.
The court stated,
“We determine that addressing mining activities in the Aravalli hills requires a collective effort involving the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and the governments of Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Gujarat,”
To facilitate this, the bench directed the formation of a committee tasked with establishing a consistent definition of the Aravalli hills and ranges. The committee will include the Secretary of MoEF&CC, forest secretaries from the four states, and representatives from FSI and CEC, ensuring comprehensive representation in the decision-making process.
The court directed the formation of a committee to establish a consistent definition of the Aravalli hills and ranges. The committee will include the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), as well as the forest secretaries of the four states involved. Additionally, one representative each from the Forest Survey of India (FSI) and the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) will be part of the committee. The court set a deadline of two months for the committee to submit its report.
The court took note of the arguments put forth by advocate K Parameshwar, who assisting the court as an amicus curiae. As per his submissions, no new mining leases or renewals of existing mining leases should be allowed in the Aravalli ranges in Rajasthan and Haryana until further orders. However, the Solicitor General representing Haryana, the Additional Solicitor General representing Rajasthan, and an advocate representing the federation of mining associations in Rajasthan objected to this suggestion.
They argued that a ban on mining would have a detrimental impact on the livelihoods of millions of laborers who depend on mining activities in these states. Furthermore, the court acknowledged that a complete ban on mining would not be environmentally conducive, as it may lead to illegal mining.
The court scheduled the matter for further hearing in August.
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