Government fails to define Aravallis despite over a year’s effort
GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· Species, protected areas & wetlands· Prelims + Mains·
Why in news
The Union government faced a Supreme Court warning regarding contempt proceedings for failing to define the Aravallis range boundaries despite a year of effort.
Background
The government formed a new sub-committee to balance ecological integrity with the 2019 National Mineral Policy. The committee decided to use both elevation and local relief as criteria for defining the Aravallis, moving away from previous attempts that used only slope and relief.
Facts for Prelims
- FactThe Aravallis range spans four states in India.
- S&TThe 2019 National Mineral Policy encourages mining for economic growth.
- PlaceThe Aravallis are described as an ancient range of hills.
- FactThe new sub-committee uses elevation and local relief as criteria for defining the range.
For Mains
Q. Discuss the conflict between ecological preservation and mineral extraction in ecologically sensitive zones like the Aravallis. How can sustainable mining be achieved without compromising biodiversity?
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Policy conflict: Balancing the 2019 National Mineral Policy objectives with ecological integrity mandates.
- Regulatory ambiguity: Lack of clear geographical boundaries hindering effective environmental enforcement.
- Judicial oversight: Role of the Supreme Court in enforcing environmental protection against administrative delays.
Keywords: Ecological integrity · Sustainable mining · Policy definition · Judicial activism · Mineral Policy
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This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.