India Bans New Mining Leases in Aravalli Range

The Indian government has imposed a nationwide ban on new mining leases across the entire Aravalli range, spanning from Delhi to Gujarat, in a move to safeguard the ecologically vital hills from further degradation. The directive, issued by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, comes amid ongoing debates over recent regulatory changes that redefined the boundaries of the ancient mountain system.

The order, announced this week, prohibits states from approving any fresh mining activities in the 700-kilometer-long range, which includes parts of Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi and Gujarat. Officials from the ministry stated that the ban applies uniformly to the whole landscape to maintain its geological and environmental integrity. This step addresses longstanding issues of illegal and unregulated mining that have scarred the region.

In addition to the ban, the ministry has instructed the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education to conduct a detailed assessment. The council will identify more areas for prohibition based on ecological, geological and landscape factors, beyond zones already protected by central guidelines. It will also develop a...