Aravalli Mining Ban a 'Legal Illusion,' Experts Warn of Weakened Protection

• Former IFS officer MD Sinha and analyst Chetan Agrawal call the Aravalli mining ban a 'legal illusion' that fails to protect the fragile mountain range.
• Experts argue the Centre's ban on new leases is superficial, lacking formal legal backing and allowing existing leases to continue with exceptions.
• A controversial 100-meter definition of Aravallis, accepted by the Supreme Court, is seen as a major loophole that weakens environmental safeguards.
• This definition, previously rejected and opposed by expert bodies like CEC and GSI, could exclude vast areas from protection.
• The new framework could open large swathes of the Aravallis to mining, threatening its ecological integrity and potential rare earth deposits.

Why It Matters: Aravalli mining ban is a 'legal illusion' due to a controversial definition, risking ecological damage.