The central government's recent decision to prohibit new mining leases in the ecologically fragile Aravalli range is being seen by many as a case of too little, too late. The ban, announced on Wednesday, comes at a time when over 1,200 mining leases are already operational across these ancient hills in Rajasthan, highlighting the extensive scale of existing excavation.
The Scale of Existing Mining Operations
The conservation effort, framed to protect one of the world's oldest mountain ranges, follows significant public concern over a proposed new definition of the Aravallis. The sheer number of existing leases reveals how deeply mining has penetrated the region. Collectively, these leases cover a staggering 17,393 hectares, or roughly 174 square kilometres, of land within the Aravallis that is currently subject to mining activities.
District-level data paints a clear picture of the concentration. Rajsamand district alone accounts for more than 540 leases, making it the most heavily leased area. It is followed by Udaipur with 162 leases and Jaipur with 139. Furthermore, the districts of Alwar, Sirohi, and Bhilwara together host more than 250 additional mining leases.
Ban Amidst Pending Proposals and Legal Disputes
Complicating the situation, the central ban was imposed just as the state's mining department was actively evaluating proposals to lease out even more areas for excavation within the Aravallis. An official source revealed that the department had issued notifications for 126 new leases just last month, with fifty of these located specifically within Aravalli districts.
The legal status of many current operations is also murky. A senior mining official stated, "At present, most mining leases in the Aravallis are under dispute and pending before courts. Some mines are closed, while others continue to operate." Crucially, the new ban does not apply retrospectively, meaning it does not cancel the permissions for the hundreds of leases already in existence across Rajasthan.
Irreversible Environmental Damage and the Larger Footprint
Mining experts have pointed out the severe environmental cost of the ongoing activities. Expert Pradeep Singh noted that in many operational lease areas, the degradation is both visible and irreversible. "Hills have been hollowed out, forest cover has thinned and natural drainage systems have been disrupted," he explained.
Another expert, Kishore Kumawat, provided area-specific data within the Aravalli region, showing Udaipur leading with 6,084 hectares under mining, followed by Sojat (2,575.35 hectares), Bhilwara (1,229 hectares), and Rajsamand (nearly 800 hectares). The state's total mining footprint extends far beyond the Aravallis, with 10,060 out of 16,116 mining leases currently operational, alongside nearly 18,000 quarry licences.
The Centre's protective measure, while a step in the right direction, arrives after decades of excavation that have already significantly altered the landscape. The challenge now lies in addressing the vast network of existing leases and mitigating their cumulative environmental impact on this critical geological formation.
