The Bench took on record an assurance from the Rajasthan government that no unauthorised mining shall take place in the region.

SC Shield for Aravallis: New Expert Panel as Illegal Mining Can Lead to Irreversible Damage

The Supreme Court cautioned that illegal mining in the Aravalli ranges could lead to "irreversible damage" and announced the constitution of an expert committee to examine mining-related issues. 

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi directed officials to suggest names of environmentalists and scientists within four weeks to form this supervisory body.

According to the apex court, the committee will undertake an exhaustive examination of the mountain system across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. The Bench took on record an assurance from the Rajasthan government that no unauthorised mining shall take place in the region. 

This decision comes amid a legal row over the uniform definition of "Aravalli Hills", which the court had previously accepted on November 20 but later kept in abeyance to resolve critical ambiguities.

As per the previous recommendations, Aravalli Hills were defined as landforms with an elevation of 100 metres or more, while a "range" consisted of hills within 500 metres of each other. However, the court noted that these criteria must be reviewed to ensure significant portions of the range are not stripped of environmental protection.

According to the Bench, the expert body will work under the court's direct supervision to ensure that the ecological integrity of the Aravallis is maintained while addressing mining concerns.

Source: The Tribune