**Executive Summary**
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has directed states to ban the grant of any new mining leases in the Aravalli Range. This measure aims to protect the integrity of the Aravalli landscape and prevent unregulated mining. The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) is tasked with identifying additional areas for mining prohibition.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Ban on New Mining Leases:**
* Complete ban on granting new mining leases in the Aravallis.
* Prohibition applies uniformly across the entire Aravalli landscape.
* Aims to safeguard the Aravallis as a geological ridge and stop unregulated mining.
* **Identification of Additional Protected Areas:**
* ICFRE directed to identify additional areas where mining should be prohibited.
* Areas to be identified based on ecological, geological, and landscape-level considerations.
* This will enlarge the coverage of areas protected and prohibited from mining.
* **Management Plan for Sustainable Mining:**
* ICFRE to prepare a comprehensive Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) for the Aravalli region.
* The plan will assess environmental impact, ecological capacity, and restoration measures.
* MPSM will be placed in the public domain for consultation.
* **Regulation of Ongoing Mining Activities:**
* State Governments to ensure strict compliance with environmental safeguards.
* Ongoing mining activities to be regulated stringently with additional restrictions.
* Aim to ensure environmental protection and adherence to sustainable mining practices.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments**
* **Impact:** The order directly impacts state governments concerning the grant of new mining leases and the regulation of existing mining operations.
* **Action Required:** States must enforce the ban on new mining leases and ensure strict compliance with environmental safeguards for existing mines.
**Mining Companies**
* **Impact:** Mining companies are impacted by the ban on new leases. Companies with existing mines face stricter regulations and additional restrictions.
* **Action Required:** Mining companies must adhere to stricter regulations, implement environmental safeguards, and adhere to sustainable mining practices.
**ICFRE**
* **Impact:** ICFRE has been tasked with identifying additional protected zones and preparing the comprehensive MPSM for the Aravalli region.
* **Action Required:** ICFRE must identify additional areas for mining prohibition and prepare a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM).
**Environment and Local Communities**
* **Impact:** This document will protect the Aravalli ecosystem, prevent desertification, conserve biodiversity, recharge aquifers, and safeguard environmental services for the region.
* **Action Required:** No direct action required. However, any community stakeholders may engage with the MPSM plan when it is made available to provide feedback on local conditions and impact.
Key Entities Referenced
Aravalli Range: A geological feature targeted for conservation due to illegal mining activities affecting its ecosystem.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC): The central ministry issuing directions to states for banning new mining leases in the Aravallis.
Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE): The organization directed by MoEF&CC to identify additional areas within the Aravallis where mining should be prohibited.
Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM): A comprehensive, science-based plan being prepared by ICFRE for the Aravalli region, assessing environmental impact and restoration measures.
Delhi-Gujarat: Represents the geographical region that contains the Aravalli Range, where the mining ban will apply.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Centre will protect entire Aravallis; No Mining
Leases; Protected Zone to be Expanded
प्रव तथ: 24 DEC 2025 7:12PM by PIB Delhi
In a major step towards conservation and protection of the entire Aravalli Range stretching from Delhi to
Gujarat from illegal mining, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC)
has issued directions to the States for a complete Ban on the Grant of any New Mining Leases in the
Aravallis.
This prohibition applies uniformly across the entire Aravalli landscape and is intended to preserve the
integrity of the range. The directions are aimed at safeguarding the Aravallis as a continuous
geological ridge extending from Gujarat to the National Capital Region, and at stopping all
unregulated mining activities.
Further, the MoEF&CC has also directed Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) to
identify additional areas/zones in the entire Aravallis, where mining should be prohibited, over and
above the areas already prohibited for mining by the Centre, based on ecological, geological and
landscape-level considerations.
ICFRE has been directed to undertake this exercise while preparing a comprehensive, science-based
Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) for the entire Aravalli region. The Plan, which will be
placed in the public domain for wide stakeholder consultation, will assess the cumulative environmental
impact and ecological carrying capacity, identify ecologically sensitive and conservation-critical areas,
and lay down measures for restoration and rehabilitation.
This exercise by the Centre would further enlarge the coverage of areas protected and prohibited
from mining in the entire Aravallis, keeping in mind the local topography, ecology and biodiversity.
The Centre has also directed that for the mines already in operation, the State Governments concerned
shall ensure strict compliance with all environmental safeguards and in conformity with the Supreme
Court’s order. Ongoing mining activities are to be regulated stringently, with additional restrictions,
to ensure environmental protection and adherence to sustainable mining practices.
The Government of India stands fully committed towards long-term protection of the Aravalli ecosystem,
recognising its critical role in preventing desertification, conserving biodiversity, recharging aquifers, and
environmental services for the region.
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VM/GS
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