Debate With Arnab: Government's Aravallis Response Extremely Unconvincing

Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav, while clarifying the Supreme Court's decision on the Aravalli region, said that the rumours are false. Hills and slopes up to 100 metres high will remain protected. Mining is completely banned in NCR. Limited mining is possible in only 0.19% of the area. Twenty sanctuaries and four tiger reserves are protected in the Aravalli region. The government is committed to a green Aravalli region.

In a major breakthrough, a 2,334-page affidavit mentioning that the government batted for mining of critical, strategic, and atomic minerals at the Aravalli hills range has been accessed by Republic TV.

In the exclusive revelation, the affidavit exposed what the government said in its defence at the Supreme Court before the order approvinga new definition of the Aravalli hills was passed.

The page 100 of the affidavit revealed chilling details regarding mining ministry request on Aravallis which read, "The Committee notes that in the request of the ministry of mines dated 22nd November, 2024, mentioning Aravalli Hills are host to important minerals such as Lead, Zinc, Silver, Copper ore, etc. are deep seated and critical minerals essential for economic development and transition to cleaner sources of energy," which points that mining industry itself mentioned that Aravalli hosts important minerals.