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New Delhi: In a significant initiative aimed at combating illegal mining and enhancing ecological safeguards, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF & CC) has mandated state authorities to enforce a total ban on the issuance of new mining leases throughout the Aravalli mountain range, which stretches from Delhi to Gujarat.

The Ministry emphasized that this ban will be uniformly applied across the entire Aravalli landscape, highlighting the goal of maintaining the geological integrity of this continuous ridge from Gujarat to the National Capital Region while ceasing all unregulated mining operations.

To further strengthen conservation efforts, the MoEF & CC has instructed the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) to pinpoint additional areas within the Aravalli range where mining should be prohibited, beyond the already restricted zones established by the Centre.

This identification process will consider ecological, geological, and landscape-level factors, according to the Ministry.

Additionally, ICFRE has been assigned the task of developing a detailed, science-based Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) for the entire Aravalli region.

The Ministry stated that this plan will be made publicly available for extensive stakeholder consultation and will evaluate cumulative environmental impacts, ecological carrying capacity, and conservation-critical areas, while also proposing restoration and rehabilitation strategies.

Officials noted that this initiative will expand the areas protected from mining across the Aravallis, taking into account local topography, ecology, and biodiversity.

For existing mines, the Centre has instructed State Governments to ensure strict adherence to all environmental regulations and compliance with the Supreme Court's directives.

The Ministry further indicated that ongoing mining activities will be closely monitored, with additional restrictions implemented to guarantee environmental protection and sustainable mining practices.

Reiterating its long-term dedication, the Indian government affirmed its commitment to safeguarding the Aravalli ecosystem, acknowledging the range's vital role in preventing desertification, conserving biodiversity, recharging aquifers, and providing essential environmental services to the region.

This action is regarded as one of the most robust policy measures in recent years aimed at preserving the Aravallis, one of the country's oldest and ecologically sensitive mountain systems.