The “No-Mining” Order: A Unified Barrier from Delhi to Gujarat
The thing is, the Centre just hit the “pause” button on one of India’s most controversial environmental battles. Basically, the Union Ministry of Environment has ordered a total freeze on the grant of any new mining leases across the entire Aravalli range.
Add businessleague.in as a Preferred Source
Also Read | Libya’s Military Chief Killed in Ankara Plane Crash
Actually, this move on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, follows weeks of public outrage and a Supreme Court freeze. As a result, from the rocky outcrops of Gujarat to the fragile Delhi Ridge, no new shovels can hit the ground for the foreseeable future (let’s be real, the desertification of NCR was getting too close for comfort).
And here’s the kicker. This ban is a direct response to a “technical” definition that almost wiped the Aravallis off the map.
Also Read | Libya’s Military Chief Killed in Ankara Plane Crash
Specifically, a new height-based criterion—which only recognizes hills rising 100 metres or more—threatened to declassify nearly 90% of the range.
Instead of protecting a continuous geological ridge, this rule effectively “opened up” lower hillocks and vital groundwater recharge zones to commercial exploitation.
In fact, environmentalists and Opposition leaders pointed out that of the 12,081 hills in the range, only about 1,048 actually meet that 100-metre bar.8 Consequently, the Centre is now scrambling to expand “protected zones” to ensure those lower hills don’t just disappear.
[Table: The Aravalli Landscape & The 2025 Ban]
| Feature | Impact of 100-Metre Rule | Status Under Dec 24 Order |
| New Mining Leases | Potentially open for 90% of hills | Complete Ban (All Heights) |
| Existing Mines | Operational | Stringent New Regulations |
| Total Hills Mapped | 12,081 | Being Re-evaluated by ICFRE |
| Protected Area | Restricted to high peaks | Expansion in Progress |
In fact, the government is passing the baton to the scientists. The thing is, the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) has been tasked with creating a “Management Plan for Sustainable Mining.
Also Read | Libya’s Military Chief Killed in Ankara Plane Crash
Basically, they have to find “additional areas” over and above existing laws where mining should be banned forever, regardless of height. Actually, the goal is to treat the Aravallis as a single, living ecosystem—a shield against the Thar Desert—rather than a collection of separate rocks. And then Y followed. The plan will be put out for public consultation before any new activity is even considered.
The thing is, for the mines already in operation, the honeymoon is over. Basically, states like Rajasthan and Haryana have been told to ensure “strict compliance” with environmental safeguards. Instead of a tidy wrap-up where mining just stops, we’re seeing a shift toward a “landscape-level” approach.
And then Y followed. This means that even if a hill is only 20 metres high, if it’s a critical wildlife corridor or a water sink, it might soon be off-limits for good. Consequently, the Aravalli landscape is finally getting the uniform legal protection it has lacked for decades (those too).
Also Read | Libya’s Military Chief Killed in Ankara Plane Crash
Add businessleague.in as a Preferred Source
We have taken all measures to ensure that the information provided in this article and on our social media platform is credible, verified and sourced from other Big media Houses. For any feedback or complaint, reach out to us at businessleaguein@gmail.com
