Centre bans new mining in Aravallis, expands protected zones across range
Centre bans new mining in Aravallis, expands protected zones across range
New move halts new Aravalli mining leases and expands protected zones, spanning from Delhi to Gujarat, to safeguard the ancient mountain range.
In a bid to safeguard the historic Aravalli range, the Centre ordered a complete ban on new mining leases across the Aravallis and asked states to widen protected zones. The aim is to curb unregulated mining and protect the ecological balance across the range, from Delhi to Gujarat.
The Aravalli range, one of the oldest mountain systems in the world, runs a long corridor from Gujarat through various states up to the National Capital Region. The new directive commits to expanding restricted areas based on ecological assessments, ensuring that conservation efforts keep pace with land-use changes and mining pressures.
The order makes clear that no new mining leases will be granted in the Aravallis. It also notes that NCR has long prohibited mining, reinforcing that the core policy is a ban on new mining activity in the eco-sensitive terrain across the region.
Environment officials say the directive is designed to stop habitat destruction, water-table decline, and pollution linked to mining activity. The government has tasked the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) with identifying additional areas and zones within the Aravallis where mining should be prohibited, aiming for a data-driven expansion of protection based on ecological parameters.
Enforcement will be crucial, as local communities, environmentalists, and industry players watch how states implement the central order on the ground. The move signals a shift toward stronger conservation, with ongoing ecological assessments guiding future expansions of the protected and restricted zones. Stakeholders hope the policy will reduce biodiversity loss and environmental damage while balancing legitimate development needs in the long term.
