Union Minister Bhupender Yadav on Monday said that misleading narratives were being circulated about the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the Aravalli range, asserting that the government has remained firmly committed to safeguarding and restoring the country’s oldest mountain system.
Yadav said he had carefully examined the judgment and clarified that the Supreme Court had unambiguously directed that the Aravalli range across Delhi, Gujarat, and Rajasthan must be preserved based on scientific evaluation and ecological considerations. He added that, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the Centre has consistently supported the idea of a “green Aravalli” and promoted long-term conservation measures for the fragile ecosystem.
The Union Minister described the ruling as a significant moment, saying it was the first time the government’s environmental initiatives related to the Aravallis had received such explicit judicial recognition. He explained that the technical committee mentioned in the verdict has been formed solely to assess issues related to mining and does not dilute the broader mandate of conservation.
Addressing confusion around the “100-metre” benchmark, Yadav said the criterion refers to the vertical measurement from the base to the top of a hill and has been misinterpreted in public discourse. He further underlined that mining activities are completely prohibited in the National Capital Region, making claims of fresh permissions in the NCR misleading.
He added that the Supreme Court judgment clearly outlines restrictions on mining, pointing out that Paragraph 38 of the order states that no new mining leases can be granted except under circumstances of critical necessity. Highlighting the ecological value of the region, Yadav noted that the Aravalli range supports 20 wildlife sanctuaries and four tiger reserves, making its protection vital for biodiversity and environmental balance.
The minister said the court’s observations have effectively countered and clarified the misinformation being spread on the issue. He also noted that the Supreme Court has recommended the formulation of a structured management plan for the scientific and sustainable management of the Aravalli range, thereby endorsing the government’s research-based conservation approach.
Separately, the Forest Survey of India has warned that extensive mining activity across nearly 10,000 hills in the Aravalli region is accelerating environmental degradation and must be urgently curtailed. The Central Empowered Committee subsequently urged that the issue be taken up by the Supreme Court to prevent further damage.
The Centre, however, maintained that under the “100-metre hill” principle—adopted in Rajasthan based on the Richard Barfi guideline—only geological formations exceeding 100 metres in height should be categorised as part of the Aravalli range, a position that has been central to the ongoing debate over conservation and mining regulation.
