Supreme Court's Abeyance on Aravalli Range Definition
The Supreme Court of India has temporarily set aside a previous judgment that restricted the definition of the Aravalli Range to hills with an elevation of 100 meters or more and their surrounding areas. This stay will remain effective until current proceedings reach their conclusion to prevent irreversible actions based on the existing framework.
Concerns and Implications
- Environmentalists and activists raised alarms over potential unrestricted mining in these hills, critical for preventing desert expansion and pollution control.
- The court noted that only 1,048 out of 12,081 hills in Rajasthan meet the elevation criteria, which could lead to significant gaps in environmental protection.
Proposed Actions
- Formation of a high-powered committee to assess the environmental impacts of the current definition and explore sustainable or regulated mining.
- Conducting a comprehensive analysis of the areas no longer covered by the new definition to protect the Aravalli's ecological integrity.
- Clarification on whether the restrictive demarcation facilitates unregulated activities in technically excluded but ecologically contiguous areas.
Government and Court Responses
- Solicitor General Tushar Mehta highlighted misconceptions arising from the acceptance of the Environment Ministry's recommendations.
- The judgment had provisionally halted fresh mining leases and called for a sustainable mining management plan.
- Chief Justice Surya Kant emphasized the need for independent expert opinions and stakeholder consultations to resolve ambiguities.
Future Considerations
- The court is exploring the possibility that geographical definitions might paradoxically narrow protected areas.
- Assessments are needed to determine the impact of gaps greater than 500 meters between clusters of hills on the protected status.
- The case is scheduled for further deliberation on January 21.
