Aravalli row: Centre’s BIG order to states, asks for complete ban on…

Aravalli controversy: The Center has directed states to impose a complete ban on granting new mining leases in the Aravallis, PTI reported, quoting officials. “The government is fully committed to the long-term protection of the Aravalli ecosystem and recognizes its critical role in conserving biodiversity,” they said. The ongoing mining activities in the Aravallis should be strictly regulated to ensure environmental protection, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) said.

The entire Aravalli range extends from Delhi to Gujarat. This ban applies uniformly to the entire Aravalli landscape and is intended to maintain the integrity of the range. The MoEF&CC has directed the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) to identify additional areas/zones across Aravallis where mining should be banned, in addition to those already banned by the Center, based on ecological, geological and landscape considerations.

The Center has also directed that for mines already in operation, the concerned state governments must ensure strict compliance of all environmental safeguards and comply with the Supreme Court order. Ongoing mining operations should be strictly regulated, with additional restrictions, to ensure environmental protection and compliance with sustainable mining practices.