Centre tightens Aravalli norms: Only 0.19% area eligible for mining
Centre tightens Aravalli norms: Only 0.19% area eligible for mining
Centre defends stricter Aravalli norms, allowing mining in just 0.19% of the area as protests and legal rulings shape the framework to curb illegal mining.
Amid protests over protecting the Aravalli hills, the Centre rolled out a set of operational definitions and strict norms aimed at limiting mining activity. The government said mining would be allowed in only 0.19% of the Aravalli area, with the vast majority of the range safeguarded from development and no new mines opened.
It defines Aravalli Hills as any landform within Aravalli districts with an elevation of 100 metres or more above the local relief, which is the height difference from the surrounding base. The Aravalli Range is constituted by two or more Aravalli Hills. Under the rules, no new leases will be allowed in areas mapped as Aravalli hills and ranges.
Environment minister Bhupender Yadav defended the new norms against allegations of green-light mining and said the Centre is fully committed to keeping the Aravalli green. He noted that the 0.19% cap is a strict safeguard against illegal mining, and he emphasized that most of the range remains protected.
Despite the clarity of definitions, critics voice concern over how the policy will be implemented on the ground and across states, and protests have surfaced in several districts. The government has sought to reassure communities that ecological protections are non-negotiable and that enforcement remains the key.
Several reports have highlighted controversy around the 100-metre criterion and the Supreme Court's orders, with officials reiterating that the definitions are part of a rigorous legal framework designed to curb illegal activity while preserving ecological balance.
