Panel led by MoEF Secy ‘suppressed’ FSI view on Aravalli, amicus informs SC, Pg1

Key Highlights:

• The Supreme Court's Amicus Curiae stated that the Aravalli committee, led by the Environment Secretary, allegedly suppressed the Forest Survey of India (FSI) view on the Aravalli definition.
• The committee recommended a 100-metre height definition for the Aravalli hills, which the FSI warned would exclude 90% of the hills.
• The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) allegedly did not approve the Aravalli panel report.
• The Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of the matter on December 29, 2025, and put its November 20, 2025 order in abeyance.

Detailed Insights:

• The Aravalli committee's report defined the hills solely based on height, disregarding the FSI's opinion on the importance of lower-lying hills, potentially excluding vital ecological areas.
• The CEC highlighted the Aravalli region's immense potential for groundwater recharge, estimating around 2 million litres per hectare, which was not considered by the committee.
• The Amicus Curiae emphasized that defining the Aravalli range solely for mining purposes ignores its contiguous ecosystem spanning four states, requiring a comprehensive conservation plan.
• An exclusionary definition could fragment the Aravalli range, opening up more areas for mining and endangering lower hills, valleys, and flat areas crucial for combating desertification.
• The Amicus Curiae suggested surveys by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) and FSI to map ecological corridors and aquifers for better conservation planning.
• The Supreme Court has asked for names to form a committee of domain experts and will further hear the case later this month.

Aravalli

Key Concepts Involved:

• Amicus Curiae: A "friend of the court" who assists with neutral legal expertise.
• Suo Motu Cognisance: The power of a court to take up a matter on its own.
• Ecological Corridor: Areas of habitat connecting wildlife populations.