Supreme Court Steps In on Aravalli Chaos, CJI-led Bench to Review Definition Row Today

New Delhi: A big controversy has arisen regarding the new definition of the Aravali mountain range. Environmentalists, local organizations, and opposition parties say that if the government's new definition is implemented, a large part of Aravali will be out of the conservation category. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court itself has paid attention to this matter and decided to hear it again. This hearing will be held on Monday and will be presided over by Chief Justice Surya Kant. Two more judges will also join the bench along with him.

What is changing in the new definition of government?

The Central Government has said that if any land area is at least 100 meters higher than its surrounding area, then it will be considered as Aravalli Hills. If two or more such hills are at a distance of 500 meters, then that place can be called the Aravalli Range. The report of a ministerial committee of experts was also accepted by the Supreme Court earlier. After this, the court had banned new mining leases in Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat until further reports came.

What are environmentalists afraid of?

Environmental groups say that taking height as the basis ignores the true nature of Aravali. In many areas the hills may be less high, but their ecological importance is very high. Due to the new definition, about 90 percent of Aravali may be out of the protected category. This will pave the way for mining, construction, and other activities to start there. Activists say that this will lead to deforestation, groundwater and rivers will be affected, and pollution will also increase with the heat.

Was there a ban on mining earlier also?

On November 20, the court had said that the new mining lease will not be granted until the full report of the experts is released. Mining is already taking place in many districts, and environmental organizations are demanding that mining be stopped completely until scientific assessments and people's opinions are incorporated.

What questions are being raised, and what's next?

Critics say that the government is claiming that only two percent of the area will be affected, but this figure has not been made public. In March 2024, a court committee had recommended conducting a major environmental study of Aravali, which has not been done yet. Now when the Supreme Court hears again, it is expected that it will be clear whether the new definition is correct or not and what further steps will be taken on mining.