The environment ministry issued directions to Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, and Rajasthan to ban new mining leases in the Aravalli Hills. The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change directed the states to impose a full ban on granting any new mining leases in the Aravallis.
Mining bans on Aravalli Hills
The environment ministry made it clear that this ban applies throughout the entire Aravalli landscape. These directions aim to protect the Aravallis. It is continuous geological ridge that stretches from Gujarat to the National Capital Region, and to prevent all unregulated mining activities. The ministry also instructed the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) to find more areas in the Aravallis where mining banned.
Initiative take to protects Aravalli
In response to the government’s directive, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh claimed this was a hollow attempt at damage control that not deceive anyone. “These are noble statements, but the risky redefinition of the Aravalli Hills over 100 meters remains unchanged. This change rejected by the Forest Survey of India, the Supreme Court-mandated Central Empowered Committee, and the Supreme Court’s amicus curiae.
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