Supreme Court Halts Aravalli Eco-Sensitive Zone Rule Amid Public Dissent

Answer: D

Statement 1: ESZs are indeed notified by the MoEFCC around Protected Areas to regulate activities. This is a fundamental aspect of their definition. Statement 2: The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, particularly Section 3(2)(v) and 3(3), empowers the Central Government to take measures for environmental protection, including the declaration of ESZs. This is the primary legal basis. Statement 3: The ESZ guidelines typically list a set of prohibited activities (e.g., commercial mining, polluting industries, major hydroelectric projects), regulated activities (e.g., felling of trees, establishment of hotels), and permitted activities (e.g., organic farming, rainwater harvesting). Commercial mining and major hydroelectric projects fall under the prohibited category. Therefore, all statements are correct.

Answer: B

Statement I: The Aravalli Range is indeed one of the oldest fold mountain ranges globally, and its major extent covers Rajasthan, Haryana, and Gujarat, with a small part in Delhi. So, statement I is correct. Statement II: The Aravallis play a vital ecological role by checking the spread of the Thar Desert towards the east and are critical for groundwater recharge, especially in the semi-arid regions of Rajasthan and Haryana. So, statement II is correct. Statement III: The news article explicitly states that the original 100-meter rule was based on a '2009 notification for the Aravalli region'. While the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, deals with forest land, the notification of an Eco-Sensitive Zone is typically done under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The news does not mention the FCA, 1980, as the basis for the ESZ notification. Therefore, statement III is incorrect. Thus, only two statements are correct.

Answer: A

Assertion (A): The news itself highlights 'public dissent' and 'practical difficulties' as reasons for the Supreme Court's stay on the Aravalli ESZ order. This is a common challenge in environmental governance in India. So, A is true. Reason (R): Environmental regulations, especially those like ESZs, often restrict land use, construction, and economic activities, thereby creating a conflict with developmental goals, property rights, and the livelihoods of local populations. This inherent conflict is precisely why 'public dissent' and 'practical difficulties' arise. So, R is true and correctly explains A.