Context:
The Supreme Court of India has intervened in the long-standing Aravalli mining controversy, imposing a ban on fresh mining leases while seeking to balance developmental needs with ecological preservation. The editorial raises concerns over greenwashing, definitional ambiguity, and transparency deficits in environmental governance.
Key Highlights:
Judicial Intervention & Regulatory Action:
-
On November 20, the Supreme Court prohibited fresh mining leases in the Aravalli region.
-
The ban will continue until a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) is finalised.
-
The Court stopped short of imposing a blanket mining ban, citing risks of illegal and unregulated mining.
Environmental Degradation & Public Impact:
-
Rampant mining, quarrying, and deforestation in the Aravallis have resulted in:
-
Groundwater depletion
-
Severe ecological damage
-
Deteriorating air quality in Delhi and Haryana
-
-
The Aravallis act as a critical ecological barrier, preventing desertification and supporting biodiversity.
Governance & Conflict of Interest:
-
The Court acknowledged a conflict of interest for State governments:
-
Mining generates significant revenue, yet
-
States often lack capacity or intent for strict enforcement.
-
-
This highlights institutional weaknesses in environmental regulation.
Contested Definitions & Expert Committee Findings:
-
An expert committee proposed that only mountains ≥100 metres in height be classified as part of the Aravalli range.
-
This criterion could exclude nearly 92% of Aravalli hills from protection.
-
The Court accepted a broader interpretation suggested by the Solicitor General, but without transparent reasoning.
Greenwashing & Policy Credibility Issues:
-
The Centre’s Aravalli Green Wall Project aims at large-scale reforestation.
-
Editorial argues that tree plantation cannot reliably compensate for ecological loss caused by mining.
-
Lack of clarity on the definition and extent of Aravallis fuels public distrust and accusations of greenwashing.
Relevant Prelims Points:
-
Issue: Environmental degradation due to mining in the Aravalli range.
-
Causes:
-
Regulatory loopholes
-
Ambiguous hill classification
-
Revenue dependence of States
-
-
Government / Judicial Initiatives:
-
Supreme Court mining ban
-
Management Plan for Sustainable Mining
-
Aravalli Green Wall Project
-
-
Challenges:
-
Definitional ambiguity
-
Weak enforcement
-
Transparency deficit
-
-
Impact:
-
Increased judicial oversight in environmental governance
-
Relevant Mains Points:
-
Facts & Concepts:
-
Aravallis are among the oldest fold mountains globally.
-
Serve as groundwater recharge zones and pollution barriers.
-
-
Keywords & Conceptual Clarity:
-
Greenwashing, Sustainable Development, Environmental Federalism, Precautionary Principle
-
-
Governance Concerns:
-
Opacity in decision-making undermines environmental legitimacy.
-
Balancing development and conservation requires evidence-based policy.
-
-
Way Forward:
-
Transparent and scientifically robust definition of Aravallis
-
Time-bound preparation of MPSM
-
Independent environmental monitoring
-
Integrating local communities in conservation efforts
-
UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):
-
GS 3: Environment conservation, sustainable mining, pollution
-
GS 2: Judiciary, governance, accountability
-
Prelims: Environmental concepts, mining regulation