SC's expert panel seeks more time to examine multiple yardsticks to define Aravallis, Pg4

Key Highlights:

• A High-Powered Committee (HPC), constituted by the Supreme Court, has sought a six-month extension until February 28, 2027, to finalize the scientific delineation of the Aravalli hills.
• The HPC proposes an Aravalli Ecosystem Landscape framework that considers multiple factors like forests, water systems, biodiversity, landscape connectivity, and livelihoods, rather than a single terrain-based yardstick.
• This initiative follows the Supreme Court's decision to put on hold an October 2025 report that recommended a 100-meter height threshold for defining the Aravallis.
• The previous report was criticized by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) and the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) for potentially excluding a significant portion of the Aravalli hills.

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Detailed Insights:

• The HPC was established in May 2026 to undertake a comprehensive review of the definition, delineation, conservation, and management of the Aravallis.
• The earlier 100-meter height threshold was deemed inadequate as it would exclude nearly 90% of the Aravalli hills, as warned by the Forest Survey of India (FSI).
• The proposed Aravalli Ecosystem Landscape framework aims to integrate the core hill system with recorded forests, protected areas, wetlands, critical catchments, and groundwater-recharge zones.
• For robust assessment, the HPC plans to utilize advanced tools such as the Copernicus 30-metre digital elevation model and CartoDEM data.
• The committee emphasizes the need for validation of its findings by institutions like the National Remote Sensing Centre and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• Accurate and comprehensive delineation of the Aravallis is crucial for effective conservation, regulation of activities like mining, and safeguarding the livelihoods of local communities.

Key Concepts Involved:

• High-Powered Committee (HPC): An expert body constituted by the Supreme Court to provide recommendations on complex environmental and policy matters.
• Aravalli Ecosystem Landscape framework: A proposed holistic approach to define the Aravalli hills, considering ecological interconnectedness beyond just terrain.
• Forest Survey of India (FSI): A national organization under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, responsible for forest resource assessment and monitoring.
• Digital Elevation Model (DEM): A 3D representation of a terrain's surface, used for mapping and analyzing topography, including specific types like Copernicus 30-metre digital elevation model and CartoDEM data.