Centre Forms Committee to Ensure Compliance with SC Orders on Aravalli Protection
Centre establishes a committee to implement Supreme Court directives for Aravalli range protection and restoration.
Photo by Rohit yadav
The Union government is establishing a committee to ensure compliance with Supreme Court orders regarding the protection and restoration of the Aravalli range. This move comes after the Supreme Court's directives to safeguard the ecologically sensitive Aravalli hills, which are crucial for environmental balance in the region.
The committee will oversee the implementation of measures to prevent illegal mining, encroachment, and deforestation, aiming to preserve the biodiversity and ecological services provided by the range. This initiative highlights the government's commitment to environmental conservation under judicial oversight, addressing a long-standing challenge.
मुख्य तथ्य
Committee formed by Union government.
Purpose: comply with SC orders on Aravalli protection.
Aravalli range is ecologically sensitive.
UPSC परीक्षा के दृष्टिकोण
Geography: Aravalli Range's physical geography, geological history, extent, highest peaks, and its role in regional climate and hydrology.
Environment & Ecology: Biodiversity, ecological services (water recharge, checking desertification, green lung), threats (mining, encroachment, deforestation), environmental impact assessments, concept of Ecologically Sensitive Zones.
Polity & Governance: Role of Supreme Court (judicial activism, environmental jurisprudence), environmental laws (Environment Protection Act, Forest Conservation Act, Wildlife Protection Act), inter-state environmental governance, role of government committees in policy implementation and compliance.
Current Affairs: Government initiatives, SC directives, environmental conservation efforts, sustainable development.
दृश्य सामग्री
Aravalli Range: Extent, Key Locations & Protection Focus
This map illustrates the geographical spread of the Aravalli Range across four states, highlighting key locations mentioned in the context of its protection. The formation of a committee by the Centre underscores the critical need to safeguard this ecologically sensitive region from threats like illegal mining and encroachment, as mandated by Supreme Court orders.
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Aravalli Protection: Key Judicial & Governmental Interventions
This timeline traces significant judicial pronouncements and governmental actions concerning the protection of the Aravalli Range, culminating in the recent formation of a compliance committee. It highlights the long-standing challenge of balancing development with environmental conservation under judicial oversight.
The Aravalli Range has been under constant threat from illegal mining, encroachment, and unplanned urbanization for decades. The Supreme Court, through various Public Interest Litigations (PILs) and its powers of judicial review, has repeatedly intervened to protect this vital ecological asset. The recent formation of a central committee signifies a renewed, coordinated effort to enforce these long-standing judicial directives.
- 1992Supreme Court bans mining in parts of Aravallis (e.g., around Badkhal Lake, Haryana) after PILs.
- 2002SC bans mining in non-forest areas of Aravallis in Haryana without environmental clearance.
- 2009SC orders ban on mining in 448 sq km of Aravalli hills in Faridabad and Gurugram districts.
- 2018SC expresses concern over disappearance of Aravalli hills in Rajasthan due to illegal mining, directs states to stop it.
- 2020NGT directs states to take action against illegal mining and encroachment in Aravallis.
- 2023SC issues fresh directives for strict compliance with its previous orders on Aravalli protection, emphasizing restoration.
- 2025Centre forms committee to ensure compliance with SC orders on Aravalli protection (Current News).
और जानकारी
पृष्ठभूमि
The Aravalli Range, one of the oldest fold mountain ranges in the world, stretches across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi. It serves as a crucial ecological barrier, preventing the eastward spread of the Thar Desert, recharging groundwater, and acting as a green lung for the National Capital Region (NCR).
Despite its ecological significance, the range has faced severe degradation over decades due to rampant illegal mining, deforestation, and encroachment, leading to significant environmental consequences like biodiversity loss, groundwater depletion, and increased air pollution. Various environmental groups and citizens have consistently highlighted these issues, leading to judicial interventions.
नवीनतम घटनाक्रम
बहुविकल्पीय प्रश्न (MCQ)
1. Consider the following statements regarding the Aravalli Range: 1. It is one of the oldest fold mountain ranges in the world, predating the Himalayas. 2. The range primarily extends across the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. 3. Guru Shikhar, located in the Mount Abu region, is the highest peak of the Aravalli Range. 4. The Aravallis play a crucial role in checking the eastward spread of the Thar Desert and recharging groundwater in the National Capital Region. Which of the statements given above are correct?
उत्तर देखें
सही उत्तर: B
Statement 1 is correct. The Aravallis are indeed one of the oldest fold mountain ranges, formed during the Precambrian era, much before the Himalayas. Statement 2 is incorrect. The Aravalli Range primarily extends across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi, not Uttar Pradesh. Statement 3 is correct. Guru Shikhar in Mount Abu, Rajasthan, is the highest peak of the Aravalli Range. Statement 4 is correct. The Aravallis act as a natural barrier against desertification and are vital for groundwater recharge, especially for the NCR.
2. In the context of environmental protection in India, which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the legal and institutional framework? 1. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, empowers the Central Government to take measures for protecting and improving the quality of the environment. 2. The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, primarily aims to prevent the diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes without central government approval. 3. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has the jurisdiction to hear all civil cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources. 4. Mining activities in ecologically sensitive areas like the Aravallis fall exclusively under the purview of state mining departments, with no central oversight. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
उत्तर देखें
सही उत्तर: A
Statement 1 is correct. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, is an umbrella legislation providing broad powers to the Central Government for environmental protection. Statement 2 is correct. The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, is crucial for regulating the diversion of forest land. Statement 3 is correct. The NGT was established to provide effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection. Statement 4 is incorrect. While state mining departments have a role, mining in ecologically sensitive areas like the Aravallis is subject to significant central oversight, environmental clearances, and judicial directives, often involving the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Supreme Court.
3. Which of the following is NOT a direct ecological service provided by the Aravalli Range to the surrounding regions, particularly the National Capital Region (NCR)?
उत्तर देखें
सही उत्तर: D
Statements A, B, and C are direct ecological services provided by the Aravalli Range. It acts as a crucial barrier against desertification, aids in groundwater recharge, and its forest cover functions as a 'green lung' for the NCR, helping to mitigate air pollution. Statement D is incorrect. The Aravallis are not known for providing a direct source of perennial rivers for irrigation and drinking water. While they influence water tables and seasonal streams, they do not originate major perennial river systems in the way the Himalayas do.
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