December 22, 2025
New Delhi- Bhupender Yadav, the Union Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister, has explicitly denied that new policy clarifications will allow extensive mining in the Aravalli highlands. Addressing the controversy, the minister stated that there has been no erosion of environmental safeguards and that the concerns made are based on misinterpretation and misinformation, not reality.
Yadav noted that the entire Aravalli region covers around 1.44 lakh square kilometers, but only about 0.19% of it is even eligible for mining under current environmental and regulatory frameworks. He emphasized that this does not imply automatic approval, as each plan must still be thoroughly scrutinized under environmental standards.
The minister clarified the discussion over landforms and height-based definitions, saying it is incorrect to presume that all regions below 100 metres are open for mining. He noted that the amended definition of the Aravalli hills adheres to scientific and judicially established limits and does not undermine existing protections for ecologically sensitive zones.
Bhupender Yadav stated, “Only 0.19% of the total 1.44 lakh sq km area of Aravali can be eligible for mining. The rest of the Aravali is protected and secure.” He further cautioned against spreading fear, asserting that “It is wrong to conclude that mining is permitted in all landforms below 100 metres. No relaxation has been made at all.”
The minister further stated that mining is still absolutely illegal in the Delhi Aravalli region, and that more than 90% of the Aravalli mountain range is fully protected by forest, environmental, and conservation regulations. He urged critics to depend on confirmed data rather than preconceptions, and he openly condemned what he described as a misinformation campaign around the problem.
What the 0.19% Classification Actually Means
The 0.19% of the 1.44 lakh sq km Aravalli region does not imply open or unfettered mining. Bhupender Yadav has stated that this little fraction only includes property that may be considered appropriate for controlled industry, including current or legally authorized mining operations under rigorous environmental restrictions.
Only non-forest land that is not covered by protected forests, wildlife corridors, eco-sensitive zones, or the Delhi Aravalli region can be evaluated in this small area. Any work there will be subject to environmental clearance, impact assessments, and approvals under regulations such as the Environment Protection Act, Forest Conservation Act, and Wildlife Protection Act.
The minister has stated that no additional blanket licenses will be granted. Activities in this 0.19% will be case-specific, which means that plans will be authorized, amended, or refused based on their environmental implications. In many cases, this region already comprises historical or pre-existing mining zones, where operations are being regularized, closely supervised, or phased in accordance with the law.
Importantly, Bhupender Yadav has clarified that this excludes ecologically vulnerable hill ranges, and mining remains entirely prohibited in Delhi’s Aravalli region. According to the government, this designation is intended to alleviate legal ambiguity rather than to expand the minimum.
In short, the 0.19% area is about regulation, not expansion—ensuring that any activity, where legally allowed, happens under tight environmental supervision, while over 99% of the Aravalli remains fully protected.
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