Why in news
- The Supreme Court refused to grant an extension to a high-powered committee defining the Aravalli hills and range.
- The court fixed November 30 as the final deadline for recommendations on defining the range and regulating mining.
Key terms
Ecologically Fragile Area
A geographically sensitive zone subject to environmental protection regulations under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
What is the issue?
- Absence of a uniform legal definition of the Aravalli range allowed State-level variations in boundary demarcation and illegal mining.
- The Supreme Court constituted a high-powered committee to establish a science-based definition across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
Mandate of the High-Powered Committee
- Evolve a standardized physical and ecological definition of the Aravalli hills, spurs, and contiguous landforms.
- Recommend comprehensive regulatory measures to control illegal stone and mineral mining in ecologically vulnerable stretches.
Why it matters
- Ecological Shield: The Aravallis act as a natural barrier preventing desertification of the Indo-Gangetic plains.
- Groundwater Recharge: Indiscriminate mining damages critical recharge zones supplying NCR and surrounding agrarian regions.
Prelims facts
- Aravallis span Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, acting as a barrier against desertification.
Mains discussion
- Discuss the significance of establishing uniform regional ecological boundaries to curb illegal mining in the Aravalli range.
Source: The Hindu Environment
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