SC Refuses Extension For Aravali Panel To Submit Final Report, Pg14

Key Highlights:

• The Supreme Court (SC) refused a six-month extension sought by a high-powered committee tasked with defining the Aravali hills and regulating mining.
• Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant directed the five-member panel to submit its final report by November 30.
• The committee, headed by Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) Director General Kanchan Devi, is mandated to evolve a uniform definition of the ecologically fragile Aravali hills and recommend measures for future mining regulation.
• The SC emphasized that no further extension would be granted and instructed the panel to submit interim reports on urgent issues.
• The panel is also directed to consult all stakeholders, including tribal communities in Rajasthan and Gujarat, before finalizing its recommendations.

Detailed Insights:

• The Aravali Range is one of the world's oldest fold mountain systems, stretching approximately 692 km across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi.
• It serves as a crucial natural barrier preventing the eastward expansion of the Thar Desert and plays a vital role in influencing monsoon patterns, groundwater recharge, and biodiversity.
• The need for a uniform definition of the Aravali Range arose due to varying criteria used by states, leading to ambiguity in environmental protection and mining regulation.
• Previous attempts, such as an elevation-based definition, faced criticism from environmentalists for potentially excluding significant portions of the range from legal protection.
• The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), responsible for forestry research, education, and providing policy support.
• The Supreme Court's strict deadline underscores the urgency of addressing environmental concerns and balancing developmental needs with ecological sustainability in the region.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Aravali Range: An ancient fold mountain system in North-Western India, ecologically significant for climate regulation, water resources, and biodiversity.
• Ecologically Fragile Area: A region highly vulnerable to environmental degradation, requiring stringent protection and sustainable management practices.
• Mining Regulation: The set of rules and policies governing the extraction of minerals to minimize environmental impact and ensure responsible resource utilization.
• Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE): An autonomous organization under the MoEFCC that conducts and promotes forestry research, education, and extension.