Rajasthan: SC panel to study Aravalli landscape from Aug 7
Jaipur, Aug 5
A high-level committee constituted under the chairmanship of the Director General of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education to define the Aravalli range in compliance with Supreme Court directions will undertake a field visit to selected districts of Rajasthan from August 7 to 10.
The committee will study the ecological, geological, hydrological, biodiversity, mining-related land use and socio-economic characteristics of the Aravalli region.
The State Government has appointed Mahavir Prasad Meena, Director (Mines), as the State Nodal Officer and B.S. Sodha, Additional Director (Mines), as the Assistant Nodal Officer for the visit. From the Forest Department, T.J. Kavitha, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, has been designated as the Nodal Officer.
According to the itinerary, the committee will visit Kotputli, Neem Ka Thana, and Sariska on August 7; Jaipur and the Kishangarh region of Ajmer district on August 8; Rajsamand and Udaipur on August 9; and hold public interactions and consultations in Udaipur on August 10.
During the visit, the committee will interact with District Collectors, officials of the Mines and Forest Departments and other concerned agencies, mine leaseholders, environmentalists, non-governmental organisations, representatives of mining associations, mine workers, subject experts, local villagers and farmers.
Public consultations are scheduled to be held in Sariska (Alwar) on August 7, Ajmer on August 8 and Udaipur on August 10.
Additional Chief Secretary (Mines) Aparna Arora chaired a virtual review meeting at the Secretariat on Wednesday with senior officers of the Mines and Forest Departments to assess preparations for the committee's visit.
She said that, besides appointing state-level nodal officers, instructions have been issued to officials in all concerned districts to remain fully prepared, coordinate closely with the committee, extend all necessary assistance and provide any information sought during the visit. District Collectors of the concerned districts have also been directed to remain present during the committee's field visits and public interactions to ensure effective coordination.
The Additional Chief Secretary further instructed officials to showcase the conservation and restoration initiatives being undertaken by the Mines and Forest Departments, as well as by mine leaseholders, for the protection and sustainable management of the Aravalli range.
The review meeting was attended by Special Secretary (Mines) Namrata Vrishni, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests P.K. Upadhyay, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests T.J. Kavitha, Director (Mines) Mahavir Prasad Meena, Additional Directors B.S. Sodha and Mahesh Mathur, ADG Alok Prakash Jain, OSD Shrikrishna Sharma, Sunil Kumar Verma, Sanjay Saxena and other field officials.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good to see the Supreme Court taking the Aravalli issue seriously. But I'm a bit skeptical—we've had so many committees before, and nothing changes on the ground. The mining mafia is powerful. The committee needs to look at the hydrological impact too; groundwater levels in this region have dropped drastically because of the destruction of these hills. Hope they come up with a clear definition that protects every ridge and hill, not just the forest areas.
This is a complex issue. Aravalli isn't just a mountain range; it's a lifeline for Rajasthan's ecology. The committee should study the socio-economic angle too—many mine workers will lose their livelihoods if mining is banned completely. We need sustainable mining, not a blanket ban. Good that they're including mine leaseholders and workers in the consultations. Balance is the key. 😊
I wish they'd also involve urban planners and environmentalists from independent institutions, not just government officials. The Aravalli range is disappearing under concrete in Delhi-NCR and Rajasthan—everyone knows it. Public consultations in Sariska, Ajmer, and Udaipur are a good start, but will they actually visit the most degraded mining sites? That's where the real story is. Let the scientific data guide the decision, not the political pressure.
As someone from Udaipur, I can tell you the green hills beyond the city are being cut off daily. The noise, dust, and trucks are destroying our air quality. This committee coming to Udaipur on Aug 9-10 gives us hope. I'll be there at the public consultation to share what we see every day. The Aravalli is our natural shield against desertification—if we lose it, Rajasthan will become like Thar. 🌿
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