No New Mining Leases in Aravallis: Centre Order To States After Row

​The Aravalli Range is much more than just a chain of mountains. It is a natural wall that stands between the lush greenery of North India and the expanding Thar Desert. For millions of people living in Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, these hills are the primary reason they have groundwater and breathable air. However, for decades, this ancient ecosystem has been under attack from unregulated mining and urban expansion. In a massive move to stop the damage, the Central Government has recently issued a bold order. There will be a complete ban on the grant of any new mining leases across the entire Aravalli landscape.

​This decision comes at a time of great public debate and legal scrutiny. Following a row over how the hills are defined and protected, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has stepped in with a clear directive to all concerned state governments. This is not just a temporary pause; it is a major step toward creating a long-term, science-based shield for one of the oldest mountain systems in the world.

​Protecting the Continuous Ridge

​The primary goal of the Centre’s new order is to protect the integrity of the Aravallis as a continuous geological ridge. In the past, mining permissions were often granted in a scattered way. This led to a "honeycomb" effect where hills were chopped down in fragments, breaking the natural flow of the range. When the ridge is broken, its ability to stop dust storms and recharge water decreases significantly.

​By stopping all new mining leases, the government wants to ensure that no more "holes" are poked into this protective barrier. The order applies uniformly from the outskirts of Delhi all the way to the plains of Gujarat. The Ministry has made it clear that the Aravallis must be viewed as one single, living unit rather than a collection of separate districts or states.

​The Science of 100 Meters

​The background to this order involves a significant ruling from the Supreme Court. Recently, the court accepted a uniform definition for what counts as an "Aravalli Hill." According to this new standard, any landform that rises 100 meters or more above the local ground level is officially part of the range. If two or more of these hills are within 500 meters of each other, they are classified as a "Range."

​This definition caused some concern among environmentalists who feared that smaller hillocks—those under 100 meters—might be left open to destruction. To address this "row," the Central Government has clarified that the ban on new mining leases is a blanket rule. It is meant to prevent any exploitation while experts do the hard work of mapping every slope and valley using modern satellite technology.

​Expansion of Protected Zones

​The Centre isn't just stopping at a ban. They have also tasked the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) with a very important job. The ICFRE has been asked to identify "additional areas" where mining should be prohibited forever. These are zones that might not have been protected before but are now recognized as ecologically sensitive.

​This means the "No-Mining Zone" is actually set to grow. The government is looking at geological features, local biodiversity, and water recharge points to decide which areas are too precious to touch. By the time this study is finished, the total area where mining is banned will likely be much larger than it is today. This is a proactive approach to conservation rather than a reactive one.

​What Happens to Existing Mines

​A common question people ask is: what happens to the mines already running? The government has clarified that existing legal mining operations can continue for now, but they will be watched like never before. State governments have been told to ensure "strict compliance" with environmental laws.

​These operational mines will now face additional restrictions. They must follow sustainable practices, and if they violate even a single rule, their permission can be revoked. The idea is to transition from a "mining first" mindset to a "nature first" model. Even the existing mines are seen as a temporary phase, with the ultimate goal being the restoration of the land once the minerals are extracted.

​The Management Plan for Sustainable Mining

​The ban on new leases will remain in place until a comprehensive "Management Plan for Sustainable Mining" is ready. This plan is not just a set of rules on paper. it is a scientific document that will assess the "carrying capacity" of the Aravallis. In simple terms, it will calculate exactly how much pressure the hills can take before they break.

​This plan will also outline how to fix the land that has already been destroyed. Restoration and rehabilitation are key parts of the new strategy. The government wants to see old, abandoned mine pits turned back into forests or water reservoirs. This shift toward "restorative justice" for the environment is a major win for the green movement in India.

​Preventing Desertification

​The most urgent reason for this ban is the threat of the desert. The Aravallis act as a barrier against the "desertification" of the Indo-Gangetic plains. If the hills vanish, the hot sands of the Thar Desert will move toward the National Capital Region (NCR) much faster. We are already seeing more intense dust storms every summer.

​By freezing new mining, the government is essentially building a "Green Wall." This connects with the Aravalli Green Wall Project, which aims to plant millions of trees in a 5-kilometer buffer zone around the range. Together, these two policies—the ban on mining and the push for planting—create a dual defense system for North India’s climate.

​A Human Way Forward

​While the order is technical, its impact is very human. It is about the quality of life for millions of people. It is about the farmer in Rajasthan whose well has gone dry because the nearby hills were mined away. It is about the child in Delhi breathing toxic dust because the natural air filters are being destroyed.

​The "row" over definitions and leases has finally led to a moment of clarity. The government has signaled that economic gain from stone and marble cannot come at the cost of our survival. By choosing to stop new leases and expand protected zones, the Centre is putting the future of the environment ahead of the short-term profits of the mining industry.

​The Aravallis have protected us for millions of years. They have stood silent as civilizations rose and fell. Now, it is our turn to protect them. This new order is a promise that the "Old Hills" will not be sold off piece by piece, but will instead be preserved as the green lungs of our nation.