In a significant escalation of an ongoing environmental battle, senior Congress leader and former Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has called for immediate Supreme Court intervention. This urgent plea comes directly on the heels of a controversial decision by the Union Environment Ministry to withdraw a crucial notification concerning the ecologically fragile Aravalli ranges.
The Core of the Controversy: From Aravalli to Sariska
The sequence of events has set off alarm bells among conservationists. On May 31, 2024, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) formally retracted a draft notification from February 2024. That earlier notification had aimed to clearly define the Aravalli ranges and related natural features across four states, including Rajasthan, a move intended to strengthen their legal protection against mining and construction.
Jairam Ramesh, in his communication dated June 1, 2024, directly linked this rollback to a separate but deeply concerning issue. He pointed the Supreme Court's attention towards the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan's Alwar district. His central argument is that the ministry's U-turn on the Aravalli definition has created a permissive environment that could legitimize destructive activities in adjacent sensitive zones.
The former minister specifically highlighted that the MoEFCC's expert appraisal committee has recently granted environmental and forest clearances for mining of dolomite and limestone in the Sariska region. He contends that these clearances, situated perilously close to the critical tiger habitat, were facilitated by the ambiguous status of the Aravalli landscape following the withdrawn notification.
A Direct Appeal for Judicial Oversight
Ramesh's appeal is not a general complaint but a targeted legal request. He has urged the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognizance of the matter. Furthermore, he has requested the apex court to issue a directive to the MoEFCC, compelling the ministry to submit a detailed affidavit. This affidavit would need to clarify its official stance and explain the rationale behind granting the mining clearances in the Sariska area.
The political and environmental stakes are high. Ramesh accused the government of systematically dismantling legal frameworks that protect the Aravallis, which act as a vital green lung and water recharge zone for the entire National Capital Region. He framed the recent clearances as part of a broader pattern of easing restrictions for mining and real estate interests, directly jeopardizing India's natural heritage.
Broader Implications and the Road Ahead
The controversy touches upon several interconnected issues:
- Ecological Integrity: The Sariska Tiger Reserve, once a success story for tiger reintroduction, faces renewed threat from mining activities that can cause habitat fragmentation, pollution, and increased human-wildlife conflict.
- Policy Volatility: The swift withdrawal of a draft notification raises questions about policy consistency and the influence of stakeholder pressure on environmental governance.
- Legal Precedent: The Supreme Court's response could set a critical precedent for how courts intervene when executive actions are perceived to undermine environmental protection mandates.
This development marks a new chapter in the long-standing struggle to conserve the Aravalli ecosystem. The ball is now in the Supreme Court's court. Whether it admits the plea for judicial review will determine the next phase of this conflict between developmental pressures and ecological preservation in one of India's most vulnerable landscapes.
