Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has firmly denied any relaxation in mining regulations for the ecologically sensitive Aravalli ranges, countering what he termed as "confusion and lies" being spread about a new uniform definition accepted by the Supreme Court. The minister made these clarifications on Sunday, December 21, 2025, following a meeting of the National Tiger Conservation Authority in West Bengal's Sunderbans.
Clarifying the New Aravalli Definition
Addressing concerns, Yadav explained that the new definition does not solely rely on a hill's elevation of 100 meters. The measurement will be taken from the base of the mountain structure, and mining will be prohibited around or beneath this structure. He emphasized that the definition also considers the Aravalli ranges as an extent of 500 meters between two or more hills.
"Due to this definition, more than 90% of the Aravallis will be under protection," Yadav stated. He added that the definition now being uniformly applied has been in use in Rajasthan since 2006, but the protections have been enhanced under the new framework.
Strict Regulations and Protected Areas
The minister provided specific data to underscore the level of protection. The total Aravalli range spans 1.47 lakh square kilometers across four states – Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Gujarat – covering 39 districts. Out of this vast area, only a minuscule portion is potentially open for regulated activity.
"Only 217 square kilometers or 2 percent can be mined, and that too only after certain studies," Yadav clarified. He highlighted that the Supreme Court, in its November 20 judgment, directed the preparation of a sustainable mining plan for the entire Aravalli landscape before any new leases are granted. No mining permissions will be granted in Delhi, and over 20 reserve forests and protected areas within the Aravallis will remain safeguarded.
Context and Supreme Court Directives
The minister's statements come in response to a report by The Indian Express on November 27, which suggested that the new definition could leave out a vast number of hillocks from protection, potentially opening the ancient ranges to more mining and construction. The report was based on internal assessments by the Forest Survey of India.
The new definition was recommended by an expert panel led by Union Environment Secretary Tanmay Kumar and accepted by the Supreme Court. The panel included experts from the Geological Survey of India, Survey of India, Forest Survey of India, the Supreme Court's Central Empowered Committee, and forest department secretaries from all Aravalli states.
Apart from defining the hills, the Supreme Court has accepted the panel's recommendation for an interim ban on new mining leases, with exceptions only for critical and atomic minerals for strategic purposes. Mining is strictly prohibited in core and inviolate areas. The court's management plan will identify permissible zones, ecologically sensitive areas, and mandate studies on cumulative environmental impacts and the region's ecological carrying capacity.
The Centre's position, as stated by Minister Yadav, remains one of supporting strict mining regulation across the entire Aravalli ranges, aiming to balance conservation with regulated resource use under a scientifically rigorous framework.
