More than 77% of Rajasthan’s illegal mining FIRs filed in Aravalli districts
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New Delhi: More than 77% of the FIRs registered in Rajasthan in connection with illegal mining originate from districts linked to the Aravalli mountain range. A study published recently found that encroachments, deforestation, and illegal mining in the Aravallis have caused severe environmental damage. It is in the wake of this that data has emerged showing that the bulk of illegal mining in the state is concentrated in this region.
Districts in Rajasthan through which nearly 70% of the Aravalli range passes are facing disproportionate and large-scale impacts of illegal mining. If the recently proposed changes to the definition of the Aravalli hills come into force, the mining crisis facing Rajasthan is likely to become even more complex. These proposed changes to the definition have, in recent times, made the Aravallis the focal point of policy- and law-related disputes and debates.
The Supreme Court had observed in May 2024 that the absence of a comprehensive and clear definition of the Aravalli hills and mountain ranges has enabled the widespread proliferation of illegal mining. However, the changes proposed to the definition thereafter have only served to further complicate the problem and the crisis.
