Ahmedabad: The Supreme Court (SC), in a order last month, has settled on a uniform definition of the Aravalli hills and ranges, placing a temporary hold on the grant of fresh mining leases across areas spanning Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. The move has significant implications for Gujarat, where the Aravalli ranges extend across four districts, Banaskantha, Aravalli (recently carved out of Banaskantha), Mehsana, and Sabarkantha.

Ecological and Geographical Significance

Stretching over 650 km from Gujarat to Delhi, the Aravalli Range is nearly two billion years old, making it India’s oldest mountain range. Apart from its historical and geological importance, the range serves as a critical ecological barrier against desertification, preventing the eastward spread of the Thar Desert into northern and western India.

In Gujarat, the range plays a vital role in stabilising climate, recharging groundwater, and supporting biodiversity. It is the source of important rivers such as the Sabarmati and supports water-recharge systems crucial for agriculture and urban water supply. The Aravallis are also rich in natural resources, including sandstone, limestone, marble, granite, and minerals like lead, zinc, copper, gold, and tungsten. However, over the past four decades, excessive quarrying for stone and sand has led to deteriorating air quality and declining groundwater levels, while illegal mining has compounded ecological damage.

SC’s Rationale and Directions

The Supreme Court noted that India’s obligations under the UN Convention to Combat Desertification require the protection of vulnerable ecosystems such as the Aravalli range. The Court’s order follows recommendations by its Central Empowered Committee (CEC), which undertook detailed studies and suggested:

• A comprehensive scientific mapping of the Aravalli range across all states.

• Macro-level environmental impact assessments of mining activities.

• Strict prohibition of mining in ecologically sensitive areas, including protected habitats, water bodies, tiger corridors, key aquifer recharge zones, and areas within the National Capital Region.

• Stringent regulation of stone-crushing units.

• No new mining leases or renewals until proper mapping and assessments are completed.

In its November 2025 ruling, the SC adopted the committee’s recommendation to define Aravalli hills as elevations above 100 metres. While amicus curae K. Parameswar raised concerns that this definition might expose smaller hills to mining, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati countered that previous definitions based on slope and foothill buffers would have excluded large portions of the range, making the 100-metre threshold more inclusive.

The Court also directed the preparation of a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) for the entire range. This plan will identify zones where mining is prohibited, regulated areas where limited extraction may be allowed, sensitive habitats and wildlife corridors, and restoration and rehabilitation measures.

Why Mining Was Not Completely Banned

The SC explained that total bans often fuel illegal mining and the rise of unregulated extraction syndicates. Instead, existing legal mining continues under tight supervision, while new mining leases are paused pending scientific assessment, and permanently sensitive areas remain protected.

Environmentalists Raise Concerns

Despite the SC’s measured approach, environmentalists have voiced strong concerns. Babulal Jaju, convenor of Bhilwara chapter of INTACH, warned that allowing mining in Aravalli hills under 100 metres could have “adverse consequences for millions of years.” Speaking from Bhilwara, Jaju said, “If Aravalli survives, the future will survive; otherwise, destruction is certain.” He highlighted the range’s role as north India’s ‘green wall,’ protecting against desertification, hot winds, dust storms, and pollution, and stressed that mining in smaller hills would disrupt groundwater recharge, damage biodiversity, and trigger abnormal weather patterns.

Government Initiatives

The Union Government has also initiated efforts to restore the Aravalli landscape. Launched in June 2025, the Aravalli ‘Green Wall’ project aims to expand green cover within a five-kilometre buffer around the ranges in 29 districts, including Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi. The project targets restoration of 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.

In Gujarat, past degradation is evident in districts like Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, and Mehsana, where deforestation, mining, and human encroachment have reduced forest cover, damaged aquifers, and compromised the range’s ability to support wildlife. The SC’s order, along with government-led restoration and sustainable mining plans, is seen as a critical step to safeguard the state’s ecological and hydrological heritage. DeshGujarat