Aravallis Safe: Ministry Dispels Mining Confusion, Cites SC Order for Clarity

• Environment Ministry asserts Aravalli Hills are safe, refuting claims of increased mining due to new definitions.
• Supreme Court formed a committee (May 9, 2024) to establish a uniform definition for Aravallis amidst illegal mining concerns.
• The committee adopted a 100-meter standard, based on Rajasthan's 2006 definition, for regulating mining.
• SC accepted the definition (Nov 20, 2025), banning mining in Core/Inviolate areas and imposing strict conditions on existing operations.
• Legal mining is limited to 0.19% (277.89 sq km) of the Aravalli region, with no mining in Delhi, and strict sustainable mining guidelines in place.

Why It Matters: Ministry assures Aravallis are safe, clarifying new definitions aim for transparency and regulation, not increased mining.