Treating the Aravallis as a single ecological unit, the Centre has imposed a uniform ban on grant of fresh mining leases from Delhi-NCR to Gujarat.
BY PC Bureau
December 24, 2025: In a sweeping intervention to arrest of ecological damage, the Centre has moved to shut the door on further mining across the Aravalli range, one of India’s oldest and most environmentally vital mountain systems. The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has instructed all states through which the Aravallis pass to stop granting any fresh mining leases across the entire stretch of the range, from the National Capital Region to Gujarat.
The ministry said the ban will apply uniformly across the Aravalli landscape and is aimed at preserving the continuity and stability of the ancient geological formation by curbing illegal, unregulated and environmentally destructive mining.
The directions underscore the government’s intent to treat the Aravallis as a single, interconnected ecological entity, rather than fragmented zones, amid long-standing concerns over unchecked mining and progressive environmental degradation.
ICFRE TO IDENTIFY MORE NO-MINING ZONES
The Centre has also directed the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) to identify additional no-mining zones across the Aravallis, beyond areas already prohibited by existing government orders. The identification process will be guided by ecological, geological and landscape-level criteria.
ICFRE has been tasked with preparing a comprehensive, science-based Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) for the entire Aravalli region. The plan will assess cumulative environmental impacts and ecological carrying capacity, map conservation-critical and ecologically sensitive zones, and recommend restoration and rehabilitation measures. The draft plan will be placed in the public domain for stakeholder consultation.
In a major step towards conservation and protection of the entire Aravalli Range stretching from Delhi to Gujarat from illegal mining, MoEFCC has issued directions to the States for a complete Ban on the Grant of any New Mining Leases in the Aravallis.
🔗https://t.co/e54qW1PUkb pic.twitter.com/FfymSkMOAb
— MoEF&CC (@moefcc) December 24, 2025
STRICT RULES FOR EXISTING MINES
For mining operations already underway, the ministry has directed state governments to ensure strict compliance with environmental safeguards and adherence to Supreme Court orders. Existing mines will be subject to tighter regulation, with additional restrictions imposed to enforce sustainable mining practices.
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CENTRE SAYS NO DILUTION OF ARAVALLI PROTECTION
The latest order comes two days after Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav dismissed allegations that recent policy changes were intended to open up the Aravallis to mining, calling such claims “misinformation”.
Yadav said the government was following a balanced approach that integrates ecological protection with economic considerations, while remaining firmly committed to safeguarding the Aravalli ecosystem. He clarified that mining is not permitted in the Delhi-NCR region and that legally sanctioned mining accounts for only a small fraction of the Aravalli landscape. The Supreme Court-backed framework, he said, is designed to curb illegal mining and strengthen environmental safeguards, not dilute them.
GOVT STRESSES LONG-TERM ARAVALLI PROTECTION
The ministry said the fresh directions would significantly expand the area protected from mining, factoring in local topography, biodiversity and ecological sensitivity. Reiterating its commitment to the long-term protection of the Aravallis, the government highlighted the range’s critical role in preventing desertification, conserving biodiversity, recharging groundwater aquifers and providing essential environmental services across the region.
