New Delhi [India], December 29 : The 'Aravalli Virasat Jan Abhiyaan', a coalition of environmentalists, activists, and citizens fighting to protect the mountain range, has welcomed the Supreme Court's decision to put in abeyance its November 20 ruling that had accepted the Central Environment Ministry's definition of the Aravalli Hills and Aravalli Range.
However, the group expressed deep concern over the use of "Expert Committees" to define what constitutes the Aravallis.
A press release from the group, reads, "'Aravalli Virasat Jan Abhiyaan' welcomes the interim stay by the Supreme Court today. However, we are very concerned about 'Expert Committees' deciding on what is Aravalli and what is not. Aravallis do not need to be defined. What they need is full protection and conservation."
They demanded a transparent and participatory process that involves communities directly impacted by mining and stone-crushing activities across the Aravalli range in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Haryana.
The release reads, "Aravalli Virasat Jan Abhiyaan demands: A complete participatory and transparent process which involves communities impacted by mining. We do not want a process which becomes an exclusive one involving the amicus, the government and the court. People living in the lap of the Aravalli range across Gujarat, Rajasthan and Haryana who are dependent on the good health of the Aravallis for their sustenance & livelihood and who are suffering badly as a result of mining and stone crushing activities need to be included in any decisions being taken with respect to the Aravallis."
They also urged the Supreme Court to direct an independent cumulative social and environmental impact study across the four states to assess the damage caused by mining, real estate, encroachments, waste dumping, and burning. The study should include the effect on people's health and livelihoods, they said.
"The Supreme Court needs to direct that an independent, cumulative social and environmental impact study of the entire Aravalli range across 4 states is carried out to ascertain the damage already done by mining, real estate, encroachments, waste dumping and burning to our shield against desertification, critical water recharge zone, climate regulator, pollution sink and wildlife habitat. Damage done to people's health and livelihoods across the range must be a part of this assessment," the release stated.
The organisation called for a complete halt to both licensed and illegal mining across 37 Aravalli districts in Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat until a detailed assessment is conducted.
The release reads, "Until a detailed social and environmental impact assessment is complete, licensed and illegal mining should be completely stopped across 37 Aravalli districts in the 3 states of Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat. Whatever is left of the Aravalli range needs to be declared an ecologically sensitive region where no more destructive activities are allowed. India's oldest mountain range does not need "sustainable mining plans" but needs to be protected and conserved. No mining is sustainable. Plus, all definitions to limit the Aravallis need to be scrapped."
The Supreme Court has "put in abeyance" its earlier decision (issued on November 20) to accept the Central Environment Ministry's definition of the Aravalli Hills and the Aravalli Range.
Acceptance of the said definition by the top court in November had exposed most of the Aravalli region to the possibility of being used for regulated mining activities.
A vacation bench of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices JK Maheshwari and AG Masih has also ordered the formation of a new expert committee to examine issues that need to be examined in terms of the definition of Aravallis.
The Court has also issued notice to the Centre and the four Aravalli States - Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi and Haryana, seeking their response to its suo motu case on the issue.