Mining Activities Prohibited in Aravalli | 10 Apr 2025

Why in News? 

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a show-cause notice to the Haryana Government and the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change over alleged mining on protected Aravalli forest land.  

• It also directed the state to halt all mining and stone-crushing activities until 7th August 2025. 

 Key Points 

• About the Issue: 
  • It was alleged that the Haryana Government auctioned 25% of 506.33 acres of notified protected forest land to stone crushing units. 
    • This land had been declared a protected forest as part of compensatory afforestation for the Great Nicobar Island project. 
  • The case highlights potential violations of the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980 and questions the legality of the auction process. 
  • Petitioners and environmentalists pointed out that mining and stone crushing have severely impacted the local water table, flora, and fauna. 
    • They also stressed that while the country is losing dense forests in Great Nicobar, the ‘Nicobar swap’ land meant to restore the Aravallis is being sabotaged by illegal mining. 
  • About Aravallis: 
    • The Aravalli Range extends from Gujarat to Delhi through Rajasthan, 692 km in length and varies between 10 to 120 km in width. 
      • The range acts as a natural green wall, with 80% located in Rajasthan and 20% in Haryana, Delhi, and Gujarat. 
    • The Aravalli mountains are divided into two main ranges – the Sambhar Sirohi Range and the Sambhar Khetri Range in Rajasthan, where their extension is about 560 km. 
    • It serves as an ecotone between the Thar Desert and the Gangetic Plain. 
      • Ecotones are areas where two or more ecosystems, biological communities, or biotic regions meet. 
    • Gurusikhar (Rajasthan), the highest peak in the range, reaches an elevation of 1,722 meters.