SC Stops New Mining in Aravalis Pending Mapping

The Supreme Court barred the grant of new mining leases in the Aravalis until a comprehensive scientific mapping exercise is completed. The Court directed the Centre to prepare a sustainable mining plan to protect the ecologically fragile region, citing rampant illegal mining and severe environmental degradation. The Court stressed that ecological preservation outweighs commercial extraction and that mining regulation must be grounded in scientific assessment. The ruling seeks to safeguard biodiversity, groundwater recharge, and long-term ecological stability in one of India’s oldest mountain ranges.