Aravalli

Manisha (27) sits with a group of women on a mattress laid out in one corner of her house's veranda in Rajasthan's Sikar's Syalodra village. In the other corner, there are stacks of large oxygen cylinders, used by her 32-year-old husband, Manjeet, for breathing up until his recent death. Manjeet was a labourer at a nearby stone crushing unit, and for more than three years, he suffered from a debilitating, incurable lung illness called silicosis. Its trigger: inhaling silica dust, fine particles that are a by-product of rampant mining operations such as drilling, blasting, and stone crushing in the region. Silicosis has claimed more than 50 people's lives over the years in Syalodra, part of the Aravalli range, say residents. However, the Supreme Court-appointed panel, which concluded its field visits to assess several aspects of the Aravallis on August 11, did not come to the village, much like it skipped going to many other mining-affected areas across Kotputli-Behror and Sikar ...

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to grant six months extension to the High-Powered Committee for submitting its final report on definition and protection of the Aravalli Hills. A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana directed the panel to submit its report by November 30, and warned that in case of failure it will reconstitute the committee. "Let the panel work day and night to submit a report on the Aravalli issue. If they are unable to do that in two months, we will reconstitute the whole panel," the CJI observed. The apex court-appointed Aravalli High-Powered Committee (HPC) had asked the top court to extend the deadline for submission of its final report by six months, saying it needs more time for a "comprehensive and defensible" assessment of the Aravalli range. Amid a row over the definition of Aravalli hills approved by it, the top court had taken suo motu cognisance of the issue in December last year.

The 3,500-4,000 shp Aravalli engine will power HAL's indigenous IMRH and naval variant, with development shared equally and production planned at Tumakuru, Karnataka

Environmentalists, mining lease holders, local communities and other stakeholders have 21 days to submit inputs to the Supreme Court-appointed panel reviewing the Aravallis

The Supreme Court said the proposed panel to define the Aravalli hills should engage experts and stakeholders while keeping the committee compact

The Supreme Court has invited suggestions to constitute an expert committee under its supervision to re-examine the definition of the Aravalli hills and address environmental concerns linked to mining

The Supreme Court asked ASG Aishwarya Bhati and amicus curiae K Parameshwar to suggest names of environmentalists and mining experts within four weeks for a panel that will work under its supervision

A new Supreme Court-backed definition of the Aravalli Hills has triggered fears of mining, environmental damage, and a dilution of decades-old protections.

The Supreme Court said confusion over how the Aravalli range was defined warranted a pause, and ordered an independent expert panel to reassess the environmental impact of mining

Jairam Ramesh, in a letter to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, asked if the redefinition would result in the loss of several small hillocks and undermine the geographical integrity

The Centre has directed states to halt new mining leases in the Aravalli range, citing environmental concerns, days after the Supreme Court defined the hills, leaving low-lying areas unprotected

"Why is the Modi Govt pushing through a fatally flawed redefinition of the Aravallis?" Ramesh asked in his tweet

The Aravallis are the country's natural heritage and have great ecological value, the Congress on Tuesday said, as it wondered why the Modi government was "hell-bent" on redefining the mountain range and for whose benefit. In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the recent "clarifications" on the ancient mountain range given by the Environment and Forest Minister raise more questions. "Aravallis are part of our natural heritage and have great ecological value. They need substantial restoration and meaningful protection. Why is the Modi Government hellbent on redefining them? To what end? For whose benefit? "And why are the recommendations of a professional organisation like the Forest Survey of India being deliberately ignored and set aside?" he asked. Ramesh also said, "The very recent 'clarifications' given by the Union Minister of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change on the Aravallis issue raise even more questions and doubts." The Congress leader, who

Yadav said the apex court's acceptance of the Centre's definition of the Aravalli hills and its approval of sustainable mining norms marked a major moment for environmental governance

The Aravalli range is more than a backdrop to Delhi-NCR. It helps recharge groundwater, buffers dust and desert winds, and supports crucial wildlife corridors.

It is worth noting that the bulk of the degradation of the Aravallis is the result of plain illegal activities, costing state governments crores of rupees in revenue

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will officially inaugurate the project on June 5. Last year the theme was 'Ek Ped Maa ke Naam', which continues

The Supreme Court injunction in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi will not affect existing mining operations

The government officials said that when intercepted, these illegal miners pretend that they did not realise entering Haryana and that they have the required permit to quarry stones in Rajasthan

Green strip across Aravalli will have numerous benefits