Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Monday accused the Congress of spreading 'misinformation' and 'lies' on the issue of the new definition of the Aravallis and stressed that mining can be carried out legally in only 0.19 per cent of the area covered by the mountain range.
At a press briefing, he said the Narendra Modi government remains 'fully committed' to protecting and restoring the Aravallis.
"The Congress, which allowed rampant illegal mining in Rajasthan during its tenure, is spreading confusion, misinformation and lies about the issue," the minister alleged.
The minister, in an interview to PTI Videos, also emphasised that 'no relaxation has been granted' with regard to rules that may affect the protection of the Aravalli region.
"We are very considerate about the Aravalli, and a false narrative is being created."
Of the total Aravalli area of about 1.43 lakh square kilometres, only around 217 square kilometres is eligible for mining, Yadav said.
The new definition, approved by the Supreme Court on the recommendation of the Environment Ministry, 'aims to curb illegal mining' and allow 'sustainable mining legally', and that too only after a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) is prepared by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), he said.
The ICFRE will identify areas where mining can be permitted only under exceptional and scientifically justified circumstances, sources said.
The study will also determine ecologically sensitive, conservation-critical and restoration-priority areas within the Aravalli landscape where mining will be strictly prohibited.
Yadav said that legally approved mining currently covers only a very small fraction of the Aravalli region, amounting to about 0.19 per cent of the total geographical area of 37 Aravalli districts in Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat.
Delhi, which has five Aravalli districts, does not permit any mining.
According to the Supreme Court's directions, he said, no new mining leases will be granted in the Aravalli region until a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining is prepared for the entire landscape by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education.
Existing mines may continue operations only if they strictly comply with sustainable mining norms laid down by the committee.
In November 2025, the Supreme Court accepted a uniform legal definition of what constitutes the Aravalli Hills and Aravalli Range on the recommendation of a committee led by the Environment Ministry.
Under this definition, an 'Aravalli Hill' is a landform with an elevation of at least 100 metres above its local surrounding terrain and an 'Aravalli Range' is a cluster of two or more such hills within 500 metres of each other.
Critics, including environmentalists and some scientists, argue that many ecologically important parts of the Aravalli system do not meet the 100-metre threshold (e.g., low ridges, slopes, foothills and recharge areas), yet are important for groundwater recharge, biodiversity support, climate moderation and soil stability.
They warn that areas excluded under the new definition could be opened for mining, construction and commercial activities, weakening long-standing protections and ecological continuity across the range.
The redefinition has triggered protests, from Rajasthan to Haryana, and social media campaigns.
The Centre has rejected the charge that the new definition weakens environmental safeguards. It has said that most of the Aravalli region (over 90 per cent) remains protected and the new definition does not relax mining controls.
Yadav on Sunday said the Aravali range includes all landforms which exist within 500 metres of two adjoining hills of a height of 100 metres or more.
All landforms existing within this 500-metre zone, irrespective of their height and slopes, are excluded for the purposes of grant of mining leases, he said.
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Won't allow tampering with Aravallis, no mining will be permitted: Rajasthan CM
Amid the controversy over the proposed mining norms in the Aravalli range, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Monday said no tampering with the mountain range would be allowed, asserting that his government is firmly committed to its conservation.
Addressing a programme in Jhalawar district, Sharma said, "Our government is committed to protecting the Aravalli range. No kind of interference will be allowed there."
Taking a swipe at Congress leaders, he said campaigns such as changing display pictures on social media under the 'Save Aravalli' banner were not enough.
"Work is done with strong willpower and real action. Don't mislead people. We will not allow any tampering with the Aravallis and no mining will be permitted," he said.
The remarks came on a day when Congress workers and several social organisations staged protests across Rajasthan demanding protection of the Aravalli range.
Sharma was addressing a women empowerment conference in Dudhalia village to mark the completion of two years of the Bharatiya Janata Party government.
He said the country's development was not possible without empowering women, describing them as the foundation of families and true architects of nation-building.
According to an official statement, Sharma said women were progressing in every field and the double-engine government was taking several steps for their upliftment.
Former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, who was present at the event, said Sharma was making meaningful efforts to take Rajasthan to new heights and the state was moving rapidly towards becoming a developed one.
At the event, Sharma transferred Rs 187.59 crore as LPG subsidy into the bank accounts of 78 lakh women beneficiaries under the Mukhyamantri Rasoi Gas Subsidy Scheme and released the first instalment of Rs 2,500 each to 18,000 beneficiaries under the Lado Protsahan Yojna, the statement added.
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