Centre Orders Complete Ban On New Mining Leases In Aravalli Range
The Centre said the decision reflects its strong commitment to the long-term protection of the Aravalli ecosystem, recognising its critical role in maintaining biodiversity and ecological balance.
Amid mounting controversy over mining activities in the Aravalli range, the Centre has taken a decisive step to protect one of India’s oldest and most fragile ecosystems. The Union government has ordered a complete halt on granting new mining leases across the Aravallis until fresh guidelines are finalised. The move, aimed at preserving biodiversity and preventing unregulated extraction, signals a tougher environmental stance as concerns grow over ecological degradation in the region.
Government Issues Order
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has directed states to impose a blanket ban on issuing new mining leases in the Aravalli range. Letters have been sent to the Chief Secretaries of Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat, instructing them not to approve any new mining permissions until revised guidelines are put in place.
The Centre said the decision reflects its strong commitment to the long-term protection of the Aravalli ecosystem, recognising its critical role in maintaining biodiversity and ecological balance. Existing mining activities, the ministry added, will now face tighter regulation to ensure strict compliance with environmental safeguards.
Ban To Apply Uniformly Across Aravalli Range
According to the ministry, the prohibition will be implemented uniformly across the entire Aravalli landscape. The objective is to preserve the integrity of the range as a continuous geological ridge stretching from Gujarat to the National Capital Region. The Centre said unchecked and irregular mining has posed serious threats to the region and must be curbed to prevent irreversible environmental damage.
The ministry emphasised that the directive is meant to protect the Aravallis as a natural barrier and ecological asset, while also ensuring that enforcement remains consistent across all affected states.
The Centre has also instructed the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) to identify additional areas across the Aravalli range where mining should be prohibited. Alongside this, a comprehensive, science-based management plan is being prepared to assess environmental impact and the carrying capacity of the region.
The proposed framework will help identify sensitive and conservation-worthy zones, expand protected and restricted mining areas, and ensure sustainable resource management.
For mines already in operation, state governments have been directed to strictly enforce all environmental safeguards in line with Supreme Court orders. The Centre has made it clear that existing mining will continue only under tighter controls and additional restrictions to ensure environmental protection and sustainable mining practices across the Aravalli range.
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