Aravalli Mining Ban Enforcement
In a major move to protect the Aravalli mountain range, the Union Ministry of Environment has ordered a complete ban on all new mining leases. This directive applies to the entire range, stretching across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. The government’s decision follows recent guidelines to safeguard one of the world’s oldest mountain systems.
The Ministry has instructed state governments to enforce this freeze immediately. No fresh mining permissions will be granted until a comprehensive “Management Plan for Sustainable Mining” is finalized. This plan will be developed by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education. It aims to identify specific zones where mining must be permanently prohibited based on ecological and geological sensitivity.
For mines that are already operational, the Center has demanded strict oversight. State authorities must ensure these sites follow all environmental safeguards without any compromise. Any existing activity found violating the rules or the latest Supreme Court observations will face severe penalties. The government’s focus is to stop unregulated extraction that threatens local biodiversity and groundwater.
The Aravalli range acts as a natural green barrier, preventing the Thar Desert from spreading toward the National Capital Region. Environmentalists believe that this strict enforcement will help recharge depleting aquifers and protect wildlife corridors. By widening the no-mining zones, the ministry aims to preserve the range as a continuous ridge.
Local communities and environmental groups have welcomed the move, seeing it as a necessary step for long-term climate stability in Northern India. The Ministry reiterated that protecting this ecosystem is vital for preventing land degradation. A detailed study on the ecological carrying capacity of the range will now guide future conservation efforts.
