Supreme Court Panel to Inspect Mining and Forest Areas in Rajasthans Aravalli Range

Jaipur, October 9 (Daily Kiran) : A high-powered committee appointed by the Supreme Court will visit the Wagad region of Rajasthan from October 11 to 13. This committee’s mission is to evaluate the definition, ecological status, and conservation of the Aravalli mountain range.

During its visit, the panel will inspect the Paldev-Sarkaan region in Dungarpur district and the Kevadia-Kothara area in Banswara district. The aim is to assess the realities on the ground concerning mining, forestry, land use, and the livelihoods of local communities, particularly Indigenous populations.

This visit follows the committee’s tour of the Aravalli region in Gujarat from October 8 to 10. While in Rajasthan, the committee will conduct field inspections and engage with local residents and other stakeholders.

The findings from this visit will contribute to a comprehensive report due to the Supreme Court by November 30 of this year. On May 25, 2026, the Supreme Court ordered the formation of a five-member high-powered committee chaired by the Director General of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE).

The committee has been tasked with independently investigating the pre-defined definition of the Aravalli range and the process for demarcating the hills based on that definition. This process aims to evaluate the area’s ecological characteristics and address conservation concerns.

The upcoming tour will focus on regions where the interplay between the Aravalli landscape, forest ecosystems, wildlife, mining activities, and local livelihoods is particularly significant. Prior to the committee’s visit, the Rajasthan government has mobilized its forest department and local officials.

A senior official from the forest department will serve as the area coordinator, while the Deputy Conservators of Forests (DCF) from Dungarpur and Banswara, along with other field personnel, will accompany the committee during its inspections. These arrangements aim to facilitate site inspections, provide relevant area information, and establish direct communication between the committee and local stakeholders.

Previously, the committee conducted a five-day tour of Rajasthan, during which it inspected various locations and consulted with stakeholders. This has raised calls for another grassroots assessment in southern Rajasthan, emphasizing the need to hear directly from those most affected by decisions related to the Aravalli region.

In its order issued on September 7, the Supreme Court emphasized that the committee must provide all relevant stakeholders, including tribal communities in Rajasthan and Gujarat, ample opportunities to express their views.

The committee is expected to incorporate these perspectives into its final assessment, which must be submitted to the court by November 30. During the upcoming inspections, the committee will investigate multiple aspects of the area’s environmental and economic landscape, including mining and excavation activities, stone-crushing operations, forest cover, water sources, surrounding ecological conditions, existing land use practices, and their environmental impacts, as well as the effects of mining and land use practices on local residents and tribal livelihoods.

The committee will also seek feedback from environmentalists, subject matter experts, mining leaseholders, villagers, farmers, laborers, and tribal communities. Consultation sessions will be held in the evenings across both districts.

According to the proposed schedule, the committee will conclude its Gujarat tour by October 10 and enter southern Rajasthan on October 11. On that day, field inspections will take place in the Paldev-Sarkaan area of Dungarpur, followed by consultations with stakeholders. On October 12, the committee will inspect the Kevadia-Kothara area in Banswara, with discussions planned with local communities and other stakeholders.

The final day of the Rajasthan tour will be October 13. These inspections are expected to provide the committee with a deeper understanding of local environmental conditions, mining concerns, and the socio-economic realities of communities residing in the area. The findings will be part of a broader evaluation concerning the demarcation, delineation, and conservation of the Aravalli hills, with the committee’s report submitted for further consideration by the Supreme Court.