Recently, Supreme Court (SC) accepted a uniform definition of Aravalli hills, recommended by Central Government appointed expert committee, along with issuing other directions.
- As per SC, the definition offers Landscape Level conservation, treating Aravalli as a continuous geological ridge, not just isolated hills.
Key Committee Recommendations
- Operational Definitions: The committee defined both the Aravalli Hills and Range.
- Aravalli Hills: Any landform in Aravalli districts with an elevation of 100 metres or more from the local relief.
- Aravalli Range: Two or more Aravalli Hills located within the proximity of 500m from each other.
- Core/inviolate Zones Safeguards: Mining is absolutely prohibited in protected areas, eco-sensitive zones, tiger reserves, wetlands, and CAMPA plantation sites.
Other Key directions by SC
- Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM): By Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) for entire Aravalli.
- Freeze on New Mining Leases: Until preparation of new MPSM on lines of the one prepared by ICFRE for Saranda Forest, Jharkhand.
About Aravalli
- One of the World’s oldest mountain ranges (Pre-Cambrian), predating the Himalayas.
- Stretches over 800km from Gujarat to Delhi (through Rajasthan and Haryana).
- Highest Peak: Guru Shikhar (Mount Abu).
Initiatives taken for Protection
|
