The Central Government has announced sweeping measures to safeguard the entire Aravalli mountain range, stretching from Delhi to Gujarat, by imposing a complete ban on new mining leases and expanding protected zones across the region.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has directed all state governments to prohibit the grant of any new mining leases anywhere in the Aravalli landscape. The directive applies uniformly across the range and aims to preserve the geological continuity and ecological integrity of one of India’s oldest mountain systems while curbing illegal mining activities.
To further strengthen conservation, the Ministry has instructed the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) to identify additional zones across the Aravallis where mining should be restricted or prohibited. These areas will be selected based on ecological sensitivity, geological importance, terrain characteristics, and biodiversity value, beyond the zones already under mining restrictions.
ICFRE has also been tasked with preparing a comprehensive, science-based management plan for the entire Aravalli region. The plan will assess cumulative environmental impacts, evaluate ecological carrying capacity, identify ecologically sensitive and conservation-critical areas, and outline restoration and rehabilitation measures. The draft plan will be placed in the public domain for stakeholder consultation.
The Centre has further directed that existing operational mines must strictly comply with Supreme Court orders and all prescribed environmental safeguards. Ongoing mining activities will be subjected to tighter regulation and additional restrictions to ensure adherence to environmental protection norms and sustainable mining practices.
Reiterating its commitment to the long-term conservation of the Aravalli ecosystem, the government highlighted the range’s critical role in preventing desertification, conserving biodiversity, recharging groundwater, and sustaining essential environmental services for the region.
