Rajasthan leaders, ecologists seek more time for Aravalli panel, flag mining damage

Opposition MPs and MLAs from Rajasthan, along with independent ecologists, have written to the Supreme Court-appointed high-powered committee (HPC) reviewing the definition of the Aravalli range, urging it to seek an extension from the apex court to better assess the impact of mining. The committee's current deadline to submit its report is August 31.

In a letter dated August 25, Rajasthan's Leader of Opposition, Tika Ram Jully, pointed out that the panel's stakeholder engagement was inadequate, covering only a few districts despite the Aravallis spanning the entire state. Other parliamentarians, including Bharat Adivasi Party MP Rajkumar Roat and CPI(M) MP Amra Ram, also submitted their views, highlighting the health and environmental problems faced by communities due to mining.

The HPC had invited comments from stakeholders over a 21-day period that ended on August 11. Civil society groups and mining-affected communities have been demanding more time, noting that the panel has only visited limited urban areas.

Roat, a member of the Bhil community, said tribal people have lived in the Aravalli hills and forests for centuries, and mining leases have caused significant damage. He demanded an extension of the deadline and a fresh notice allowing face-to-face discussions. He also called for consultations with health experts, cancellation of leases for violators, and fixing responsibility for the damage.

Amra Ram made specific demands, including protection for the Girjan river ecosystem—which spans 40 villages and the Buchara Dam—and for the Sota and Katli rivers in Kotputli and Jhunjhunu districts. He also sought safeguards for 'oran' or sacred groves along the river stretches.

Ecologist Pradip Krishen, in an email to the HPC, said the panel has a historic opportunity to protect the Aravallis, which act as a natural barrier against desertification and house vital aquifers. He called for a cumulative and independent environmental and social impact study covering all 63 Aravalli districts identified by the Forest Survey of India. The study, he said, should be conducted by reputable independent institutions with experts in ecology, geology, public health, and wildlife, to assess the carrying capacity of the range. He warned against mindless mining of North India's lifeline for clean air and water security, especially given India's vulnerability to climate change and rising pollution and heat levels.

The HPC was constituted in May this year to resolve ambiguities in an earlier report by a panel led by the Union Environment Secretary. The Supreme Court had initially accepted a definition of Aravallis as any landform with an elevation of 100 metres or more above local relief, but stayed its order in December 2025 after public backlash.