SC bars 4 states from granting fresh mining leases in Aravali

NEW DELHI: Shocked by Haryana govt's statement that there is no specific definition of areas which qualify as Aravali range, Supreme Court Thursday barred Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi from granting fresh mining leases in the battered ecosystem of India's oldest mountain range. However, SC clarified this order would not suspend existing legal mining activities.
A bench of Justices B R Gavai and A S Oka also constituted a committee comprising secretary of Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change; forest secretaries of the four states; and a representative each of Forest Survey of India, Geographical Society of India and Central Empowered Committee to devise a definition of what constitutes Aravali to facilitate drafting of a uniform policy to protect the range that serves as a barrier against the spread of Thar desert to the northern plains. SC asked the committee to submit its report in two months and posted the matter for further hearing in July. The court's concern for Aravali's destruction continues since 1985 when it created a special forest bench. It had on many occasions banned stone quarrying, sand mining, commercial activities and ordered removal of encroachments from the hilly forested terrain. But unscrupulous elements, with tacit connivance of the administration, continued their illegal activities.
Amicus curiae K Parameshwar and senior advocate ADN Rao argued for mapping of mining areas in Aravali to enable the authorities to stop mining spilling on to additional areas causing irreparable damage to the fragile ecology of the range. Appearing for Haryana, solicitor general Tushar Mehta told SC that the state is not against mapping of mining areas and assured it that every order from SC on preserving Aravali's sensitive ecosystem will be implemented in letter and spirit.
Parameshwar suggested that there should be a complete ban on all kinds of mining activities in the Aravali range. The bench, however, said a complete ban on mining always proves counterproductive."