SC takes suo motu cognisance of row over definition of Aravalis; hearing tomorrow, Pg1

Key Highlights:

• The Supreme Court will take suo motu cognisance of concerns regarding the definition of the Aravali hills.
• A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant will hear the matter.
• The issue stems from a recent judgment accepting MoEF&CC recommendations defining Aravali hills based on a 100-meter elevation clause.
• The court had previously directed authorities to identify areas for permissible mining and strictly prohibited zones within the Aravali landscape.

Detailed Insights:

• The new definition of Aravali hills as landforms with a 100-meter elevation has raised concerns about potential ecological harm and increased mining activities.
• The Supreme Court had acknowledged the Aravalis as a crucial "green barrier" against the eastward expansion of the Thar desert.
• The court had directed that no new mining leases be granted until the Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) is finalized by the MoEF&CC through ICFRE.
• The court's earlier directives aimed to balance sustainable mining practices with the need to protect ecologically sensitive areas within the Aravali range.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Suo Motu Cognisance: The power of a court to take up a matter on its own, without waiting for a formal complaint.
• MoEF&CC: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the central authority for environmental regulation.
• ICFRE: The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, an autonomous organization under the MoEF&CC.