Facing flak, minister claims no relaxation for mining in Aravallis, Pg3

Key Highlights:

• Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav addressed concerns over the new Aravalli Hills definition, assuring it won't relax mining regulations.
• The Supreme Court directed a sustainable mining plan for the Aravallis, similar to the one in Saranda, Jharkhand, before granting any mining permissions.
• The new definition considers landforms at an elevation of 100m or more above the local relief as part of the Aravalli Hills.
• The Union Environment Ministry clarified that no new mining leases will be allowed until a detailed study is completed, as per the Supreme Court's November 20 order.

Detailed Insights:

• The new definition of Aravalli Hills considers the height of 100m measured from the base of the mountain structure, with mining prohibited around or beneath it.
• The Aravalli ranges are defined as the extent of 500m between two or more hills, potentially placing over 90% of the Aravallis under protection.
• The Centre supports strict mining regulation in the Aravalli ranges, spanning Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Gujarat, across 39 districts.
• The Supreme Court has accepted the panel's recommendation for an interim ban on new mining leases, except for critical and strategic minerals.
• The Union Environment Ministry is directed to prepare a management plan for sustainable mining, identifying permissible areas and conservation-critical areas.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Aravalli Range: A mountain range in northwestern India, one of the oldest fold mountains in the world.
• Sustainable Mining: Mining practices that minimize environmental impact and ensure long-term ecological balance.
• Ecological Carrying Capacity: The maximum population size of a species that the environment can sustain indefinitely, given the food, habitat, water, and other necessities available in the environment.