Plans to unlock the mineral wealth of Rajasthan's ancient Aravalli hills have hit a major legal roadblock. The state government's ambitious auctions for high-value emerald and gold mines have been put on hold indefinitely, following a Supreme Court order that casts a shadow over new mining activities across the entire mountain range.
Legal Uncertainty Halts High-Value Auctions
The Rajasthan mining department had identified and prepared two significant deposits for auction in the Udaipur division. These included a promising emerald block in Rajsamand and a substantial gold mine. However, a senior official confirmed that the entire process was suspended midway. The decision stems directly from a Supreme Court ruling issued in November 2025, which led the central government to impose a complete ban on granting new mining leases across the Aravalli range.
The official stated that the department is unwilling to proceed without clear legal guidance. This directive applies uniformly to all states encompassing the Aravallis: Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. The court has ordered a freeze on fresh leases until a comprehensive Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) is prepared and implemented.
Emerald and Gold Projects in Limbo
At the heart of the stalled plans is the Mojawaton ka Guda Emerald Block in Rajsamand. Spread across a vast 348.92 hectares, this block had already undergone preliminary exploration by the Geological Survey of India (GSI). Encouraged by the initial findings, the state moved to auction it under a composite licence model.
This two-stage mechanism is designed to attract private investment by reducing initial risk. The winning bidder first conducts detailed exploration and submits reports. If economically viable reserves are confirmed, the licence automatically converts into a full mining lease for commercial extraction. This model, however, now hangs in suspension.
Simultaneously, Rajasthan reignited its ambitions in gold mining. After a previous failed attempt, the mines and geology department relaunched the auction for two major gold blocks: the Kankriya Gara Block in Banswara district and the Dugocha (Salumber) Block in Udaipur district.
Digital bids were invited, with technical bids scheduled to be opened on January 2, 2026. However, because the Dugocha block lies within the Aravalli range of Udaipur, its auction was also put on hold. This block is particularly notable for its scale, spanning 472 hectares with an estimated 1.74 million tonnes of gold-bearing resources at an average grade of 1.63 grams per tonne. Its in-situ value is pegged at a staggering approximately Rs 1,410 crore based on current valuations.
Conservation vs. Commerce: The Aravalli Crossroads
This development places the rocky spine of the Aravallis, one of the world's oldest mountain ranges, once again at the crossroads of conservation and commerce. The Supreme Court's intervention underscores the ongoing tension between economic development through resource extraction and the imperative to protect fragile ecological zones.
The state's mining department finds itself in a holding pattern, awaiting further legal clarity and the formulation of a sustainable management plan. The future of mineral exploration in this region now depends on the court-mandated balance between environmental preservation and economic incentive. For now, the treasures beneath the Aravallis will remain locked away, as the legal framework for their potential extraction is carefully re-evaluated.
