Aravalli Hills Case: Centre Bans New Mining Leases Across Entire Aravalli Range, Ongoing Mines To Continue Under Stringent Regulations
In a significant move to preserve one of India’s oldest mountain systems, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has directed states to impose an immediate and complete ban on the grant of all new mining leases across the Aravalli Range.
New Delhi, December 24: In a significant move to preserve one of India’s oldest mountain systems, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has directed states to impose an immediate and complete ban on the grant of all new mining leases across the Aravalli Range.
The directive, issued Wednesday, December 24, applies uniformly to the entire Aravalli landscape, which stretches from Delhi through Haryana and Rajasthan to Gujarat. The ministry stated that the prohibition is intended to safeguard the integrity of the range as a continuous geological ridge and to curb unregulated mining activities that threaten the region’s ecological balance. Aravalli Hills Case: Why Is #SaveAravalli Trending? What Is Supreme Court’s New ‘100-Metre’ Rule Redefining Aravalli Mountain?
Expansion of Protected Zones in Aravalli Hills
As part of a broader conservation strategy, the Centre has tasked the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) with identifying additional "no-mining" zones. These new areas will be protected based on scientific considerations including local topography, biodiversity, and geological significance. ‘It Is Wrong to Conclude That Mining Is Permitted in All Landforms Below 100 Metre Height’: Centre on Aravalli Hills Protest.
This identification process will feed into a comprehensive Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) being developed by the ICFRE. Once drafted, the plan will be made available for public consultation. It aims to assess the cumulative environmental impact and the "carrying capacity" of the Aravalli ecosystem to ensure long-term restoration.
Stringent Oversight for Existing Mining Activity in Aravalli Hills
While new leases are frozen, the Ministry clarified that mines currently in operation may continue, provided they adhere to strict environmental safeguards. State governments have been ordered to ensure these operations remain in full conformity with recent Supreme Court orders.
Ongoing activities will face heightened regulatory scrutiny and additional restrictions to align with sustainable mining practices. The government emphasized that any violation of environmental norms would lead to immediate intervention.
Ecological Significance of Aravalli Hills
The Aravalli Range plays a critical role in the environmental health of Northwest India. It acts as a natural "green barrier" preventing the eastward spread of the Thar Desert toward the National Capital Region (NCR) and the Indo-Gangetic plains.
Beyond desertification control, the range serves as a vital groundwater recharge zone for water-stressed states and hosts a diverse array of flora and fauna. Recent satellite data and environmental reports have frequently highlighted the disappearance of several hillocks in the range due to illegal mining, prompting judicial and executive intervention.
The Centre reiterated that its commitment to protecting the Aravallis is rooted in the range's essential services, including carbon sequestration and the maintenance of regional climate stability.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 24, 2025 08:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).