The Supreme Court has prohibited four states/UT from granting new mining leases and renewals in Aravallis, India’s oldest mountain range.
- The court’s order covers Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat — the four States where the Aravallis reside.
- The court made it clear that its order should not be construed as a ban on legal mining activities carried out through valid permits and licences.
- The Supreme Court bench formed a committee to devise a definition of the Aravali range. A preliminary report by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), submitted by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), defined the region of Aravalli range to include some hills, as well as a 100-metre-wide buffer zone.
About Aravalli
- The Aravalli range in India is one of the oldest fold mountain systems in the world.
- The Guru Shikhar in Rajasthan is the tallest point in the Aravalli range, rising to an elevation of 1, 722 metres. The peak is named Guru Shikhar or “peak of the guru” after Dattatreya, an incarnation of Vishnu.
- The Aravali range serves as a crucial barrier against the encroachment of the Thar desert into the northern plains.
- Aravalli is the only geographical feature that stops dry winds from coming to the Gangetic plains. Dry winds that come from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Aravalli is a natural barrier.
- The Aravalli Range, estimated to be around 670 million years old, predates the Himalayan Range, making it one of the oldest mountain ranges on Earth.
- The Aravallis serve as a natural barrier against desertification, and helps regulate the climate, supports diverse ecosystems, and acts as a watershed for several rivers, including the Sabarmati, Luni, and Banas.
- The Aravalli Range acts as a crucial water catchment area for the region, serving as a source of rivers, lakes, and groundwater recharge. Iconic landmarks like the Kumbhalgarh Fort, Dilwara Temples, and Ranakpur Jain Temple are testament to the rich cultural heritage of the Aravallis.
