SC Reveals New Definition Sparks Environmental Fears In Aravalli Hills

By John Pranay (Editor)

The Supreme Court of India has taken suo motu cognizance of the controversy surrounding the definition of the Aravalli Hills, a critical mountain ecosystem in north-western India. The court will hear the matter on December 29, with a vacation bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant. Environmentalists have raised concerns that the new definition, which uses a 100-meter height criterion, could allow unregulated mining in the region, impacting water, food, and climate security for millions.

Environmentalists have been vocal in their criticism of the revised definition, arguing that it could open up vast stretches of the ancient mountain range across Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat to mining activities. Neelam Ahluwalia, an environmentalist and member of Aravalli Virasat Jan Abhiyaan, has demanded the Supreme Court recall its November 20 order and that the Centre withdraw the new definition. She emphasized that "there is nothing called sustainable mining in a critical mountain ecosystem like the Aravallis." The Aravalli mountain range is known for its ecological significance, preventing desertification and maintaining groundwater levels.

• November 20: The Supreme Court accepted a definition proposed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), which stated that "Aravali Hills" are landforms with at least a 100-meter height above local relief.

• November: A Supreme Court bench led by then Chief Justice BR Gavai directed the Centre to prepare a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) before permitting new mining activities in the region.

• December 29: The Supreme Court will hear the suo motu case on the definition of Aravalli Hills, with a vacation bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant.

The revised definition of the Aravalli Hills could have significant implications for environmental security in India. If unregulated mining is allowed in the region, it could lead to ecological damage, water pollution, and loss of biodiversity. This could have far-reaching consequences for the livelihoods of millions of people who depend on the Aravalli range for their water and food security.

The Supreme Court's decision on December 29 will be closely watched by environmentalists and stakeholders. The court's ruling could have significant implications for the Centre's plans to allow mining in the Aravalli range. Additionally, the court's decision may also have implications for the Centre's efforts to develop a uniform understanding of what constitutes the Aravalli Hills and Ranges.

This suo motu case highlights the need for a more nuanced understanding of environmental security in India. The Supreme Court's decision to take cognizance of the controversy surrounding the definition of the Aravalli Hills suggests that the court is willing to take a closer look at the Centre's plans to allow mining in the region. Crucially, this overlooks the fact that the Centre's efforts to develop a uniform understanding of the Aravalli Hills and Ranges may be driven by a desire to promote economic growth, rather than environmental protection. This raises important questions about the balance between economic development and environmental security in India.

Assessment: Neutral.

1. SC takes suo motu case on definition of Aravalli Hills — https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/india/sc-takes-suo-motu-case-on-definition-of-aravalli-hills/story

2. SC takes suo motu case on Aravalli hills issue; bench headed by CJI to hear matter on Monday — https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/india/supreme-court-suo-motu-aravalli-hills-mining-concerns-p2vc6obf

Methodology: This analysis combines real-time data aggregation from manually selected global sources with advanced AI synthesis, engineered to provide neutral and data-driven insights.