Centre Directs States to Enforce Supreme Court Orders on Aravali Mining

Context:
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has directed Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat to strictly enforce Supreme Court (SC) orders banning new mining leases in the Aravali mountain range, while allowing regulated continuation of existing mines. The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) has been tasked with preparing a Sustainable Mining Management Plan for the region.

Key Highlights:

Government Directive & Policy Action:

• Centre instructed States to “enforce” Supreme Court directions on mining restrictions in the Aravali region.

• No new mining leases permitted in areas covered under SC orders.

• Existing mining operations allowed only if they strictly comply with environmental norms.

• ICFRE assigned responsibility to prepare a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining, with no specific deadline mentioned.

Judicial Background & Regulatory Framework:

• Supreme Court has been addressing mining, quarrying, deforestation, and ecological degradation in the Aravalis for several years.

• An expert committee recommended a uniform criterion of 100 metres above local relief for regulating mining.

• Rajasthan adopted this criterion in 2006, serving as a regulatory benchmark.

• Land within 500 metres of hills having height ≥100 metres is treated as protected, and excluded from new mining leases.

Data & Environmental Concerns:

• Forest Survey of India (2010) estimated that only 8% of around 12,000 hills in the Aravalis exceed 100 metres in height.

• This raised concerns that a large portion of the Aravali landscape could become vulnerable to mining exploitation.

Key Institutions & Stakeholders:

• MoEFCC – Policy direction and enforcement coordination

• State Governments – Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat

• Supreme Court of India – Judicial oversight

• ICFRE – Technical planning and scientific assessment

Relevant Prelims Points:

• Issue: Unregulated mining and ecological degradation in the Aravali mountain range.

• Causes:

  • Expansion of mining and quarrying

  • Ambiguities in hill classification criteria

  • Weak enforcement of court orders

• Government Initiatives:

  • Enforcement of SC orders

  • Preparation of Sustainable Mining Management Plan

• Benefits:

  • Protection of fragile ecosystems

  • Conservation of groundwater recharge zones

  • Reduction in desertification and air pollution

• Challenges:

  • Absence of timelines

  • Inter-state coordination issues

  • Pressure from mining lobbies

• Impact:

  • Strengthens environmental governance

  • Reinforces rule of law in environmental protection

Relevant Mains Points:

• Facts & Provisions:

  • Aravalis are one of the oldest fold mountain ranges in the world.

  • Act as a natural barrier against desertification from the Thar Desert.

  • Mining leases regulated under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and judicial directives.

• Keywords & Conceptual Clarity:

  • Sustainable Mining, Ecologically Sensitive Zones, Local Relief Criterion, Environmental Rule of Law

• Way Forward:

  • Time-bound completion of ICFRE management plan

  • Clear demarcation of no-go zones using GIS and satellite mapping

  • Strengthening environmental monitoring and compliance mechanisms

  • Promoting alternative livelihoods for mining-dependent communities

UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):

• GS 2: Governance, role of judiciary, Centre–State relations

• GS 3: Environment conservation, sustainable development, resource management

• Prelims: Environmental regulations, institutions, ecological concepts