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25 Dec 2025·Source: The Indian Express
2 min
Environment & EcologyEnvironment & EcologyPolity & GovernanceEDITORIAL

Aravalli Hills Under Threat: Environmental Degradation and Legal Battles

Aravalli hills face severe destruction from illegal mining, despite legal protections and court orders.

Aravalli Hills Under Threat: Environmental Degradation and Legal Battles

Photo by Prince Lewis

संपादकीय विश्लेषण

The authors express grave concern over the continued destruction of the Aravalli hills due to illegal mining and encroachment, despite judicial interventions, emphasizing the critical ecological role of the range and the failure of enforcement.

मुख्य तर्क:

  1. The Aravalli hills are facing severe destruction from illegal mining and encroachment, particularly in Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi, leading to significant environmental degradation.
  2. Despite a 2002 Supreme Court ban on mining and subsequent directives, illegal activities persist, indicating a failure of enforcement and governance.
  3. The Aravallis are crucial for ecological balance, acting as a green lung, water recharge zone, and biodiversity hotspot, and their destruction has severe environmental consequences.

निष्कर्ष

The authors conclude that urgent and stringent measures are needed to protect the Aravallis, calling for effective implementation of existing laws and judicial orders to prevent further ecological damage.

नीतिगत निहितार्थ

The article implies a need for stronger enforcement mechanisms, inter-state coordination, and political will to curb illegal mining and protect ecologically sensitive areas like the Aravallis.

The Aravalli hills, a crucial ecological zone, are under severe threat from illegal mining and encroachment, despite numerous legal protections and Supreme Court directives. The article highlights that claims of destruction, particularly in Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi, are alarming. Despite a 2002 Supreme Court ban on mining in the Aravalli region and subsequent orders, illegal activities persist, leading to significant environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, and impact on groundwater.

The judiciary has repeatedly intervened, emphasizing the need for strict enforcement of environmental laws and protection of the Aravallis, which act as a green lung and water recharge zone for the region. This ongoing battle between environmental protection and economic exploitation is a critical issue for environmental governance and sustainable development.

मुख्य तथ्य

1.

Supreme Court ban on mining in Aravalli region since 2002

2.

Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980

3.

Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

4.

Aravalli Notification of 1992

UPSC परीक्षा के दृष्टिकोण

1.

Geographical significance and ecological role of Aravallis

2.

Legal and constitutional provisions for environmental protection in India

3.

Role of judiciary in environmental governance and judicial activism

4.

Challenges in enforcement of environmental laws and sustainable development

5.

Inter-state environmental issues and federalism

दृश्य सामग्री

Aravalli Hills: A Critical Ecological Zone Under Threat

This map highlights the geographical spread of the Aravalli mountain range across key Indian states and the regions specifically mentioned in the news for illegal mining and encroachment. The Aravallis are crucial for the ecological balance of North India.

Loading interactive map...

📍Delhi📍Haryana📍Rajasthan📍Aravalli Range (Approx. Center)

Judicial Interventions & Policy Evolution for Aravalli Protection

This timeline illustrates key legal and policy milestones, particularly judicial interventions, aimed at protecting the Aravalli Hills from environmental degradation, highlighting the ongoing battle against illegal activities.

The Indian judiciary has consistently played a proactive role in environmental protection, especially in ecologically sensitive areas like the Aravallis. Despite landmark judgments and specific bans, enforcement remains a challenge, leading to repeated interventions and the evolution of environmental jurisprudence over decades.

  • 1980Forest (Conservation) Act enacted, providing legal framework for forest protection.
  • 1986Environment (Protection) Act enacted, a comprehensive umbrella legislation.
  • 2002Supreme Court bans mining in a 400 sq km area of the Aravalli region in Haryana, citing severe environmental damage.
  • 2010National Green Tribunal (NGT) established for expeditious disposal of environmental cases.
  • 2018Supreme Court expands definition of 'forest' in Aravallis to include areas notified under Section 4 of Punjab Land Preservation Act, preventing non-forest use.
  • 2020Debate on proposed EIA Notification 2020, raising concerns about potential dilution of environmental safeguards, including for sensitive areas like Aravallis.
  • 2023NGT imposes heavy fines on state governments for failing to curb illegal mining and directs satellite monitoring for Aravalli protection.
  • 2024State governments (Haryana, Rajasthan) intensify drone surveillance and e-auction systems for mining leases to enhance transparency and curb illegal activities.
  • 2025Ongoing legal battles and Supreme Court/NGT directives continue to emphasize strict enforcement and restoration efforts in the Aravalli region.
और जानकारी

पृष्ठभूमि

The Aravalli Range is one of the oldest fold mountain systems in the world, predating the Himalayas. It stretches across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi, playing a crucial ecological role as a green lung, watershed, and groundwater recharge zone for the semi-arid regions it traverses. Historically, it has been a source of minerals, leading to extensive mining activities.

नवीनतम घटनाक्रम

Despite its ecological significance and numerous legal protections, including a 2002 Supreme Court ban on mining in the Aravalli region, the hills continue to face severe threats from illegal mining, encroachment, and unsustainable development. This has led to significant environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, and depletion of groundwater resources. The judiciary has repeatedly intervened, highlighting the persistent challenges in enforcing environmental laws and balancing economic interests with ecological preservation.

बहुविकल्पीय प्रश्न (MCQ)

1. With reference to the Aravalli Range and its environmental significance, consider the following statements: 1. The Aravalli Range is one of the oldest fold mountain systems in the world, primarily composed of Precambrian rocks. 2. It acts as a critical watershed and groundwater recharge zone for the semi-arid regions of Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi. 3. The range forms a natural barrier against the eastward expansion of the Thar Desert. 4. The Supreme Court of India imposed a complete ban on mining activities in the Aravalli region in 2002, which has been effectively enforced across all states since then. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

उत्तर देखें

सही उत्तर: A

Statement 1 is correct. The Aravallis are indeed one of the oldest fold mountain systems, primarily of Precambrian age. Statement 2 is correct. The Aravallis are crucial for water security in the region, acting as a watershed and groundwater recharge zone for parts of Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi. Statement 3 is correct. Its orientation helps in checking the spread of the Thar Desert towards the east. Statement 4 is incorrect. While the Supreme Court did impose a ban on mining in the Aravalli region in 2002, the article explicitly states that 'illegal activities persist' and 'claims of destruction... are alarming', indicating that the ban has NOT been effectively enforced across all states. Therefore, the phrase 'effectively enforced across all states since then' makes this statement incorrect.

2. In the context of environmental protection and governance in India, consider the following statements: 1. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, empowers the Central Government to take measures for protecting and improving the quality of the environment. 2. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has original jurisdiction over all civil cases involving substantial questions relating to the environment, including those arising from the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. 3. Mining activities in forest areas are primarily regulated by the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, with no direct oversight from the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, once a mining lease is granted. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

उत्तर देखें

सही उत्तर: B

Statement 1 is correct. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, is an umbrella legislation that grants wide powers to the Central Government for environmental protection and improvement. Statement 2 is correct. The NGT was established under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, and has original jurisdiction over all civil cases where a substantial question relating to the environment (including enforcement of legal rights relating to the environment) arises. This includes matters under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. Statement 3 is incorrect. Mining activities in forest areas are not solely regulated by the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. Any diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes, including mining, requires prior approval from the Central Government under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. This act provides crucial oversight and is a significant legal hurdle for mining projects in forest areas.

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