Aravalli Showdown: Bhupender Yadav Says Congress ‘Rattled’ by Total Mining Ban

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Thursday rejected Congress allegations that a new definition of the Aravalli Hills would leave more than 90% of the range unprotected, saying the opposition

party was “rattled” because the government has imposed a complete ban on mining in the Aravallis.The Congress earlier claimed the redefinition would open large parts of the Aravallis to mining and other activities. Responding on X to a post by Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, Yadav dismissed the charge and cited official denials.“No FSI study has been conducted saying what you are claiming. But I know the reason you are spreading these lies despite FSI issuing a categorical denial. Maybe your ‘environmentalist hat’ would be credible if you questioned your party colleague Ashok Gehlot about who destroyed the Aravallis,” Yadav wrote.

He added: “You and your coterie are rattled because we have issued a total ban on mining in the Aravallis from Gujarat to Delhi. We will not allow you, Mr Gehlot or anyone else in your party to plunder the sacred Aravalli range ever again. Will continue to work for the restoration of what your party has ravaged.”

Ramesh accused the government of launching a “determined assault” on ecological balance by weakening environmental protection laws and loosening pollution norms.The dispute follows the Centre’s acceptance of a uniform, elevation-based definition of the Aravallis. Under the new definition, an “Aravalli Hill” is a landform with an elevation of at least 100 metres above the surrounding terrain, while an “Aravalli Range” is defined as a cluster of two or more such hills within 500 metres of each other.After the controversy, the Centre on Wednesday directed states to impose a complete ban on granting new mining leases across the Aravalli range.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests has also asked the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education to identify additional areas across the Aravallis where mining should be prohibited, beyond zones already barred by the Centre.The government has said the measures are aimed at strengthening protection of the fragile mountain range, which plays a key role in the ecology of north and western India.