Supreme Court Withholds Final Approval on Renewal of Mining Leases in Aravalli Range

In a pivotal ruling on Tuesday, the Supreme Court of India reiterated stringent controls over the renewal of mining leases in the ecologically sensitive Aravalli range, which spans Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. The apex court mandated that no final permissions for the renewal of mining leases shall be granted without its prior approval.

During the hearing of two fresh applications for the renewal of mining licenses, the bench, comprising Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan, directed the concerned state governments to process the renewal proposals. This includes obtaining necessary statutory clearances from various authorities, but emphasized that final approval must be sought from the Supreme Court itself.

This decision aligns with the court’s previous stance from May 9, which allowed states to consider and process applications for the grant and renewal of mining leases—provided they obtain all statutory clearances. However, final permissions for mining operations within the defined boundaries of the Aravalli hills, as delineated in the Forest Survey of India report of August 25, 2010, cannot proceed without the court’s express permission.

The court clarified that its order should not be interpreted as a prohibition against legal mining activities that are conducted with valid permits and licenses. This distinction aims to balance environmental concerns with the economic activities dependent on mining in the region.

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Highlighting the complexity of the issue, the Supreme Court also addressed the discrepancies in the definition of what constitutes the Aravalli range across different states. To address this, the court has ordered the formation of a committee, including the secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, to establish a uniform definition of the Aravalli hills and range.