Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has wholeheartedly welcomed the Supreme Court's latest directive to impose a stay on its previous order that enforced a uniform definition of the Aravalli hills and ranges, reaffirming the central government's steadfast commitment to the long-term protection, conservation, and ecological restoration of this ancient and critically important mountain system spanning multiple states.

The Supreme Court, in a significant procedural shift, has kept in abeyance key directions from its November 20 verdict, which had formally accepted the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change's committee-recommended uniform definition of the Aravallis, thereby temporarily lifting the associated restrictions while allowing for deeper scrutiny of the complex geographical and environmental factors involved.

Recognising the multifaceted nature of the issue, the apex court has taken a proactive step by proposing the establishment of a high-powered committee composed of eminent domain experts, tasked with conducting an exhaustive, scientific, and holistic examination of the Aravalli ecosystem, including its precise delineation, ecological significance, and sustainable management strategies.

Also Read: Environment Minister Defends Aravalli Protection Plan and Blames Congress for Past Illegal Mining

Yadav explicitly clarified that the comprehensive ban on all mining activities—covering both new leases and renewals of existing ones—remains fully intact and enforceable across the Aravalli region, while assuring complete cooperation and logistical support from the Ministry to the newly constituted panel in its vital mission to safeguard one of the world's oldest fold mountain ranges.

The earlier committee's recommendations had sought to standardise identification by defining an "Aravalli Hill" as any elevated landform in notified districts rising at least 100 metres above local relief, and an "Aravalli Range" as interconnected clusters of such hills within a 500-metre proximity, provisions originally aimed at preventing further fragmentation and degradation of this irreplaceable natural barrier that plays a pivotal role in regional climate regulation and biodiversity conservation.

Also Read: Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa Announces Carpool App and Pollution Measures