SC panel invites public feedback on Aravalli Hills definition and sustainable mining
The Supreme Court-constituted high-powered committee, led by Kanchan Devi, Director General of ICFRE, has opened a 21-day window for public feedback on issues surrounding the Aravalli Hills. This panel was formed to resolve ambiguities in an October 2025 report and a 100-meter elevation benchmark for defining the Aravallis, which had sparked public debate for potentially excluding over 90% of the hill range from protection. The committee will assess whether "sustainable mining" or "regulated mining" within newly demarcated areas would lead to adverse ecological consequences.
Key Points
- A Supreme Court-appointed committee is seeking public inputs on the definition and protection of the Aravalli Hills.
- The panel aims to clarify ambiguities from a previous report regarding the 100-meter elevation benchmark for the Aravallis.
- Concerns were raised that the previous definition could leave over 90% of the hill range unprotected from mining and construction.
- The committee will evaluate the ecological impact of sustainable or regulated mining in the newly demarcated Aravalli areas.
- The panel is mandated to submit its comprehensive report to the court by August 31.
Exam Facts
- Committee leader: Kanchan Devi, Director General of Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE).
- Panel to submit report by: August 31.
- Previous report submitted in: October 2025.
- SC bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice J K Maheshwari, and Justice Augustine George Masih.
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