Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupendra Yadav has issued a strong rebuttal to allegations that the central government is weakening environmental safeguards for the ecologically critical Aravalli mountain range. He asserted that nearly 90% of the Aravalli landscape will continue to be a protected zone, with mining activities confined to a minimal area under the strict scrutiny of the Supreme Court.
Clarifying the '100 Metre' Definition and Scope of Protection
Addressing the controversy that followed a recent Supreme Court order, Yadav accused certain YouTube channels of spreading misinformation regarding the definition of the Aravalli hills. He clarified that the '100-metre' definition does not refer to the top portion of the hills but to the spread of the hill from top to bottom. Furthermore, gaps between two ranges within 500 metres will also be considered part of the Aravalli range.
"With this definition, 90 per cent of the area comes under the protected zone," Yadav stated, as per an ANI report. He emphasized that the Aravalli range spans four states: Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, and a related petition has been pending in court since 1985.
Sustainable Mining Under Supreme Court's Watchful Eye
Minister Yadav provided specific figures to underline the limited scope of permitted mining. The total Aravalli area is approximately 1.47 lakh square kilometres. Of this vast expanse, only about 217 square kilometres, or nearly 2%, is eligible for mining.
He stressed that even this limited activity will be tightly regulated. "Mark my words... the Supreme Court has directed that a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining be prepared. After that, permission from ICFRE (Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education) will be required before any activity can proceed," Yadav explained.
He added that mining in the Delhi Aravalli is completely prohibited and all protected areas and forest reserves in the national capital will remain untouched.
Protests and Political Echo
The minister's comments come after the new definition of the Aravalli hills sparked protests from Gurugram in Haryana to Udaipur in Rajasthan. Environmental activists have expressed fears that the changed criteria could harm the ecological balance of one of India's oldest mountain ranges.
The new definition, accepted by the Supreme Court on 20 November, states: "Aravalli Hill is any landform in designated Aravalli districts with an elevation of 100 metres or more above its local relief" and an "Aravalli Range is a collection of two or more such hills within 500 metres of each other".
Echoing the Centre's position, Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Prem Chand Bairwa stated that around 98% of the Aravalli area in Rajasthan, Haryana, and Gujarat is already protected. "The remaining one to two per cent will not cause any harm to Rajasthan," he said.
In conclusion, the government maintains that its approach is balanced, aiming to protect the vast majority of the Aravallis while allowing strictly regulated, sustainable mining in a tiny fraction of the area, all under the direct supervision of the highest court in the land.
