PIB Fact-Checks Aravalli Claims: SC Ruling Strengthens Protection, No Imminent Threat

• PIB refutes "alarmist claims" on Aravalli Hills, stating Supreme Court ruling strengthens ecological protection, not weakens it.
• Supreme Court approved a uniform, scientific definition for Aravalli Hills and Ranges, covering landforms, slopes, and intervening areas.
• New mining leases are frozen until a comprehensive Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) is prepared by ICFRE.
• Mining is prohibited in core ecological zones like protected areas, wetlands, and tiger reserves, with strict limits on other mining.
• The ruling emphasizes Aravallis' critical role as a desertification barrier, groundwater recharge zone, and biodiversity habitat.

Why It Matters: Supreme Court ruling enhances Aravalli Hills protection, debunking fears of ecological threat.