New Delhi: Supreme Court stays order limiting definition of Aravalli range amid row
The Supreme Court on Monday stayed its November 20 judgment that limited the definition of the Aravalli range to landforms rising at least 100 metres above the local terrain. The top court decided to revisit the contentious issue of what constitutes the Aravallis and proposed forming an expert panel to comprehensively examine questions relating to their height and permissible mining in the region.
On November 20, the top court had accepted a uniform definition of the Aravalli hills and ranges and banned grant of fresh mining leases inside its areas spanning Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat until experts’ reports are out.
The apex court had accepted the recommendations of a committee of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) on the definition of Aravalli hills and ranges to protect the world’s oldest mountain system.
The committee recommended that “Aravalli Hill” will be defined as any landform in designated Aravalli districts with an elevation of 100 metres or more above its local relief and an “Aravalli Range” will be a collection of two or more such hills within 500 metres of each other.
The Aravalli Hills and Ranges are among India’s oldest geological formations, spanning between Delhi to Gujarat through Haryana and Rajasthan. Historically, they have been recognised across 37 districts by state governments, with their ecological role noted as a natural barrier against northern desertification and a protector of biodiversity and water recharge.
The Supreme Court earlier emphasised that uncontrolled mining here poses a “great threat to the ecology of the nation” and directed uniform criteria to safeguard them. Their conservation is thus vital for ecological stability, cultural heritage, and sustainable development.
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