Union Environment Ministry Imposes Complete Ban on New Mining Leases Across Aravalli Range

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) implemented a comprehensive prohibition on granting new mining leases across the entire Aravalli mountain range. The ministry said the prohibition applies uniformly across the entire Aravalli landscape, irrespective of state boundaries, and covers Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Gujarat. The directive was issued following the Supreme Court-backed definition of the Aravalli as hills rising at least 100 metres above surrounding terrain, with hill ranges separated by over 500 metres of plain treated as distinct formations. The Aravalli range prevents desertification, supports biodiversity, recharges groundwater aquifers, and provides critical ecosystem services to millions across northwestern India. For the implementation phase, the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) has been tasked with identifying additional zones requiring complete mining prohibition and preparing a comprehensive, science-based Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) that will assess environmental impacts and evaluate ecological carrying capacity. State governments of the four affected states must ensure strict compliance with all environmental safeguards and adhere fully to Supreme Court orders, with enhanced monitoring and additional restrictions imposed on currently operating mines. Rajasthan, which hosts the largest share of the Aravalli by area, is expected to undertake the most significant enforcement, coordinated through its Mines, Forest, Revenue, and Transport departments. The decision reflects the Centre's response to decades of concern over illegal mining, deforestation, and desertification of the Aravalli belt, and positions the range as a key node in India's ecological security architecture.