No new mining leases in Aravallis, will protect entire range: Centre's big order

In a major move aimed at protecting the ecologically fragile Aravalli range, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has directed all concerned states to impose a complete ban on the grant of any new mining leases across the Aravallis, which stretch from Delhi to Gujarat.

In an order issued on Tuesday, the ministry said the prohibition will apply uniformly across the entire Aravalli landscape and is intended to preserve the integrity of the ancient geological range by curbing illegal and unregulated mining activities.

The directions seek to safeguard the Aravallis as a continuous ridge extending from Gujarat to the National Capital Region, amid long-standing concerns over rampant mining and environmental degradation.

The Centre has also tasked the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) with identifying additional areas across the Aravallis where mining should be prohibited, beyond the zones already barred by the government. The identification exercise will be based on ecological, geological and landscape-level considerations.

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