The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued directions to states to impose a complete ban on the grant of any new mining leases across the entire Aravalli Range, marking a major move to curb illegal and unregulated mining in one of India’s oldest mountain systems.
The ban applies uniformly to the Aravalli landscape stretching from Gujarat to the National Capital Region, including Delhi, and is aimed at preserving the geological continuity and ecological integrity of the range. The directions seek to halt fresh mining activity that could further degrade the fragile ecosystem.
Centre moves to widen no-mining zones across Aravallis
In addition to stopping new leases, the ministry has asked the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education to identify more areas across the Aravallis where mining should be prohibited. This exercise will go beyond zones already notified by the Centre and will be based on ecological, geological and landscape-level assessments.
ICFRE has been tasked with carrying out this identification as part of a comprehensive, science-based Management Plan for Sustainable Mining for the entire Aravalli region. The plan will assess cumulative environmental impacts, study ecological carrying capacity, and flag conservation-critical and environmentally sensitive areas.
Once prepared, the management plan will be placed in the public domain to allow for broad stakeholder consultations. It will also outline measures for ecological restoration and rehabilitation in areas already affected by mining activities.
Existing mines to face stricter environmental oversight
For mining operations that are already active, the Centre has directed state governments to ensure strict compliance with all environmental safeguards and adherence to Supreme Court orders. Ongoing mining will be subject to tighter regulation and additional restrictions to align operations with sustainable mining practices.
The government said the move would significantly expand the coverage of protected and prohibited mining zones across the Aravallis, factoring in local topography, biodiversity and ecological sensitivity.
The Aravalli Range plays a crucial role in preventing desertification, conserving biodiversity, recharging groundwater aquifers and supporting environmental stability across north-western India. The Centre reiterated its long-term commitment to protecting the ecosystem and ensuring that development activities do not come at the cost of irreversible environmental damage.