In a major legal and environmental change, the Supreme Court of India has accepted the Union government’s plan to limit protection of the Aravalli range to a 100-metre buffer. This is despite the court’s own advisory body previously opposing the idea.
The decision, made in the last 48 hours, has sparked renewed discussion about environmental protections, mining rules, and the long-term ecological future of one of India’s oldest mountain systems.
Supreme Court’s Decision on Government 100m Aravalli
The Supreme Court accepted the government’s recommendation without thoroughly examining other definitions. This acceptance came just one day after the proposal formally presented to the court. Notably, the court’s own monitoring body, the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), later stated that it had not reviewed or approved the ministry’s suggestion. Despite this, the court moved forward and accepted the proposal, giving it legal support.
What is the Govt 100m Aravalli?
The 100-metre rule refers to a definition suggested by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). Under this rule, only land within 100 metres of officially recognized Aravalli hill features considered protected. This definition effectively reduces the area of the Aravalli ecosystem, leaving out large sections of lower hill formations and forests that seen as part of the range.
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