How is the Aravalli range to be protected?

Source: The post “‘How is the Aravalli range to be protected?” has been created, based on ‘How is the Aravalli range to be protected?” published in “The Hindu” on 18th December 2025.

UPSC Syllabus: GS Paper-3-Environment

Context: The Aravalli range is India’s oldest mountain system and plays a critical ecological role in preventing desertification and maintaining environmental stability. The Supreme Court has recently intervened to ensure uniform identification and sustainable protection of the Aravalli hills across multiple States.

Ecological Significance of the Aravalli Range

1. The Aravalli hills act as a natural barrier that prevents the eastward expansion of the Thar Desert into the Indo-Gangetic plains.
2. The range helps regulate local climate, supports rich biodiversity, and aids in groundwater recharge.
3. The Aravallis are the source of important rivers such as the Chambal, Sabarmati, and Luni.
4. The hills contain key aquifer recharge zones that sustain agriculture and drinking water needs in surrounding regions.
5. India is internationally obligated under the UN Convention to Combat Desertification to protect ecosystems such as the Aravalli range.

Threats to the Aravalli Range

1. Excessive and often illegal mining of stone and sand over the past four decades has severely degraded the hills.
2. Mining has contributed to declining groundwater levels, increased air pollution, and habitat fragmentation.
3. Weak enforcement of environmental regulations has allowed continued ecological damage.

Recommendations of the Central Empowered Committee

1. The CEC recommended comprehensive scientific mapping of the Aravalli range across all States.
2. It proposed a macro-level environmental impact assessment of cumulative mining activities.
3. The committee advised a strict ban on mining in ecologically sensitive zones such as protected forests, water bodies, tiger corridors, aquifer recharge areas, and the National Capital Region.
4. It recommended stringent regulation of stone-crushing units.
5. The committee advised that no new mining leases or renewals should be allowed until mapping and assessments were completed.

Need for a Uniform Definition of the Aravalli Hills

1. States were using inconsistent and selective criteria to define the Aravalli hills, enabling mining in ecologically fragile areas.
2. Expert bodies, including the Forest Survey of India, had differing definitions based on slope, buffers, and valley width.
3. To resolve this confusion, the Supreme Court constituted a multi-agency committee to arrive at a scientifically sound definition.
4. The committee concluded that hills above 100 metres should be classified as part of the Aravalli range.
5. While concerns were raised that this definition could allow mining in lower hills, the Court accepted it as more inclusive and administratively workable.

Other Directions Issued by the Supreme Court

1. The Court directed the preparation of a comprehensive Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM).
2. The plan must identify no-go zones where mining is permanently prohibited.
3. It must also identify areas where limited and strictly regulated mining may be allowed.
4. The plan must assess cumulative ecological impacts and define restoration and rehabilitation measures.

Conclusion: The protection of the Aravalli range requires a science-based, coordinated, and regulated approach rather than absolute prohibition. The Supreme Court’s directions aim to balance ecological conservation with controlled economic activity. Effective implementation of these measures is essential to prevent desertification and ensure long-term environmental sustainability.