New Delhi: Senior Congress leader and former environment minister Jairam Ramesh on Sunday claimed that the Aravallis are under the "gravest of threats" by the Modi government's decision to have them redefined and hoped that the High Powered Committee set up by the Supreme Court will reject the Centre's moves.
Ramesh alleged that the Modi government is "hellbent" on redefining the Aravallis and hoped that the Supreme Court will stand firm.
His remarks came after a three-part PTI report on the environmental impact of mining on the Aravallis.
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"The Aravallis are under the gravest of threats by the Modi Govt's moves to have them redefined so as to allow mining, real estate and other projects. Before the chief justice of India retires on Feb 9, 2027, we may well know what will happen to these moves. Fingers crossed," Ramesh said on X.
"Hopefully the High Powered Committee set up by the Supreme Court and given a deadline of Nov 30, 2026, to submit its report will reject the Modi govt's moves to redefine the Aravallis. Otherwise, there will be more such ecocides," the Congress leader said.
With their natural cracks and fissures, the Aravalli hills have the potential to put two million litres of water per hectare into the ground every year, according to experts.
This makes the range a critical water recharge zone for several areas in north-west India, where the Aravallis stretch from Delhi to Gujarat.
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But decades-long mining of sedimentary rocks, such as limestone and marble, along the range has allegedly led to numerous stone quarries and stone crushers set up near or on riverbeds and water bodies. This imperils the water security that the Aravallis once provided.
PTI reported last month on how mining has impacted Rajasthan's Kotputli-Behror and Sikar districts. It also explored how mining dust in the Aravallis is killing residents.
