The Supreme Court of India has delivered a landmark environmental ruling, directing the central government to prepare a comprehensive sustainable mining plan for the entire Aravali mountain range while imposing an immediate ban on new mining licenses in the ecologically sensitive region.
Court's Directives for Aravali Protection
In a significant decision announced on Thursday, November 21, 2025, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India B R Gavai and Justices K Vinod Chandran and N V Anjaria ordered the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to prepare a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) for the complete Aravali landscape.
The court explicitly barred the grant of any new mining licences throughout the Aravali region until the comprehensive sustainable mining plan is finalized and approved. This interim prohibition aims to prevent further ecological damage while experts conduct detailed assessments of the area.
Comprehensive Geological Scope
The bench defined the Aravalis as "the continuous geological ridge extending from Gujarat to Delhi" and mandated that the sustainable mining plan should follow the model previously developed for the Saranda forest region. The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) has been tasked with preparing this crucial document.
The court emphasized that "it may not be in the interest of ecology and environment if further mining activities are permitted to be carried out without a body of experts examining the issue of protection of the conservation areas." This recognition of the fragile ecosystem underscores the urgency of the matter.
Key Components of the Sustainable Mining Plan
The Management Plan for Sustainable Mining will serve multiple critical functions in preserving the Aravali ecosystem while regulating mining activities:
- Conduct geo-referenced ecological assessment to gather comprehensive environmental data
- Identify wildlife habitats and highly eco-sensitive areas requiring conservation
- Establish protocols for how sustainable mining operations should be conducted
- Designate permissible mining zones and ecologically sensitive areas
- Pinpoint conservation-critical and restoration-priority regions
The Supreme Court specifically mandated that the MPSM must clearly identify areas where mining shall be strictly prohibited or permitted only under exceptional and scientifically justified circumstances. This nuanced approach balances environmental protection with regulated economic activity.
The court's decision represents a major step toward protecting one of India's most critical ecological zones, ensuring that future mining activities, if any, occur within a framework that prioritizes environmental sustainability and conservation.
