NEW DELHI: In a significant ruling to protect the world’s oldest mountain systems, the Supreme Court has adopted a uniform definition for the Aravali Hills and Ranges, prohibiting new mining leases in these areas across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat until expert reports are finalized.
On Thursday, Chief Justice B R Gavai, in the court’s ruling, endorsed the recommendations from a committee under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) aimed at safeguarding the Aravali Hills and Ranges.
The term “Aravali Hill” will refer to any elevated landform within designated Aravali districts that stands at least 100 meters above its local relief. Meanwhile, “Aravali Range” is designated as a group of two or more such hills located within 500 meters of one another.
The committee stated that “Any landform in the Aravali districts with an elevation of 100 meters or more shall be characterized as Aravali Hills. The entire landform within the contours, as well as associated landforms, shall be regarded as part of the Aravali Hills.”
In defining the Aravali Range, the panel clarified that “Two or more Aravali Hills situated within 500m of each other, as measured from the outermost contour boundary, forms an Aravali Range.”
The bench, which also included justices K Vinod Chandran and N V Anjaria, delivered a comprehensive 29-page judgment stemming from ongoing environmental litigation in the TN Godavarman Thirumulpad case.
CJI Gavai stated, “We accept the recommendations regarding mining prohibitions in core or inviolate areas, with exceptions as noted in the committee’s report.”
The court also backed sustainable mining practices and measures to combat illegal mining in the Aravali region. Additionally, authorities were directed to identify areas where mining is permissible, and where conservation and restoration efforts must take precedence.
“We mandate that until the Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) is finalized by the MoEF&CC through the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), no new mining leases shall be granted,” the ruling stated.
Mining may proceed in existing operations only in strict adherence to the committee’s recommendations. The Aravalis, described as a “green barrier” that curtails the Thar desert’s eastward expansion and supports diverse ecosystems, require a clear scientific definition for effective environmental conservation and land-use regulation.
The Supreme Court has reserved its verdict on defining the Aravali Hills and Ranges since November 12.
