Over 77% of Rajasthan’s illegal mining FIRs filed in Aravalli districts, Pg7

Key Highlights:

• Over 77% of illegal mining FIRs in Rajasthan from 2020-2023 were filed in Aravalli districts.
• Aravalli districts account for 56% of Rajasthan's illegal mining cases, despite holding less than 45% of the state's mining leases.
• The Supreme Court is involved in a legal dispute over the definition of "Aravalli hills" to curb illegal mining.
• Proposed changes to the definition of "Aravalli hill" could exclude many hills from protection, potentially aggravating illegal mining.
• The Union government has imposed a freeze on new mining leases in the Aravalli landscape.

Detailed Insights:

• The Aravalli range, one of the world's oldest mountain systems, faces threats from inconsistent definitions and mining regulations.
• A technical committee suggested a 4.57-degree slope and 30-meter height for defining Aravalli hills, but the Environment Ministry proposed a 100-meter height above local relief.
• The Forest Survey of India (FSI) and an amicus curiae raised concerns that the Environment Ministry's definition is too narrow and could open lower hills to mining.
• Rajasthan hosts a significant portion (560 km) of the 800 km long Aravalli range, passing through 20 of its districts and housing 16 wildlife sanctuaries.
• The Aravalli range is ecologically vital, acting as a barrier against desertification, supporting groundwater recharge, stabilizing climate, and serving as a wildlife corridor.
• In 2021-22, Rajasthan accounted for over 10% of India's illegal mining cases, with the Aravalli region bearing a disproportionate burden of these violations.

Key Concepts Involved:

• First Information Report (FIR): A written document prepared by police when they receive information about the commission of a cognizable offense.
• Amicus Curiae: A "friend of the court," someone who is not a party to a case but assists a court by offering information or expertise.
• Mining Lease: An agreement that grants a company or individual the rights to extract minerals from a specific area.