Centre orders complete ban on new mining leases in Aravallis

Centre bans new mining leases in Aravallis after SC freeze, aiming to protect biodiversity, groundwater and its role as a desert barrier

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has announced a sweeping ban on the grant of new mining leases across the Aravalli range, spanning Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. The directive, issued today, follows the Supreme Court’s recent order freezing fresh leases until a comprehensive Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) is prepared.

According to the ministry, the prohibition applies uniformly across the entire Aravalli landscape and is intended to safeguard the ecological integrity of one of the world’s oldest mountain systems. The government emphasized that the Aravallis serve as a critical “green barrier” against the eastward spread of the Thar desert, while also supporting biodiversity and groundwater recharge in the National Capital Region.

The MoEF&CC has tasked the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) with identifying additional zones where mining should be prohibited, beyond those already restricted by the Centre. These recommendations will be based on ecological, geological, and landscape-level considerations.

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For mines already in operation, the ministry directed state governments to ensure strict compliance with environmental safeguards and to align with the Supreme Court’s ruling. The court, in its November 20 judgment in the TN Godavarman Thirumulpad vs Union of India case, accepted a scientific definition of the Aravalli hills and ranges and mandated that no new leases be granted until the MPSM is finalized.

The ruling has sparked public debate, particularly over the height-based definition of the Aravallis, which classifies hills rising 100 metres or more above local terrain within 500 metres as part of the range. Critics argue that this criterion excludes smaller hillocks essential for ecological connectivity, potentially leaving large portions vulnerable to mining. Environmental groups and opposition parties have voiced concern that the new definition could weaken protections.

Despite these concerns, the government insists the ban ensures conservation until a science-based plan is in place. By halting new leases and tightening oversight of existing operations, the directive aims to preserve the Aravallis’ role as a vital shield against desertification and a cornerstone of environmental sustainability in northern India.

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