A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi directed Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, acting as amicus curiae, to suggest the names of environmentalists and scientists with expertise in mining within four weeks
The Supreme Court extended its earlier order, which had kept in abeyance its November 20 directions accepting a uniform definition of Aravalli hills and ranges. File pic
Observing that illegal mining can lead to irreversible damage, the Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday said it would constitute an expert committee of domain specialists to undertake a comprehensive examination of mining and related issues in the Aravalli hills, news agency PTI reported.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi directed Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, acting as amicus curiae, to suggest the names of environmentalists and scientists with expertise in mining within four weeks so that the expert body could be constituted.
“The committee will work under the direction and supervision of this Court,” the bench said.
The apex court also extended its earlier order, which had kept in abeyance its November 20 directions accepting a uniform definition of Aravalli hills and ranges, PTI reported.
During the hearing, the court was informed that illegal mining continues in scattered locations. The bench took on record the assurance of Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, representing the Rajasthan government, that no unauthorised mining would take place.
The matter stems from the top court’s suo motu cognisance of the issue titled “In Re: Definition of Aravalli Hills and Ranges and Ancillary Issues”, following controversy over the new definition of the Aravallis. On December 29 last year, the Supreme Court had kept in abeyance its November 20 directions, citing the need to resolve “critical ambiguities,” including whether the criteria of 100-metre elevation and 500-metre gap between hills would leave significant portions of the range without environmental protection.
SC bans fresh mining leases in Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat
On November 20, the apex court had accepted a uniform definition of the Aravalli Hills and ranges and banned the grant of fresh mining leases in areas spanning Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat until reports from experts are available.
The court had endorsed the recommendations of a committee of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, which proposed defining an “Aravalli Hill” as any landform in designated districts with an elevation of 100 metres or more above local relief, and an “Aravalli Range” as a collection of two or more such hills within 500 metres of each other, to protect the world’s oldest mountain system.
(With PTI inputs)
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
