Aravalli row: Yadav, Ramesh trade charges over mining and forest data

The war of words between the government and the Opposition over the Aravalli hills continued on Thursday, with the Congress alleging that a redefinition of the Aravallis would leave more than 90% of the hill range unprotected and open to mining and other activities. Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav countered the charge, saying the Forest Survey of India (FSI) had not conducted any study measuring the height of the Aravalli hills.

In a post on social media platform X, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said there was a contradiction between the Prime Minister’s “global talk and local walk” on environmental issues. Citing FSI data, Mr. Ramesh said, “If we take all Aravalli hills identified by FSI, not even 1% exceeds 100 metres. The FSI believes, and rightly so, that height limits are dubious and all of the Aravallis irrespective of height should be protected.”

Responding to the charge, Mr. Yadav said the claim was incorrect and that no such study had been conducted by the FSI. “I know why you are spreading these lies despite FSI issuing a categorical denial,” he said, sharing an FSI post on X that rejected the assertion that it had undertaken any such survey.

The Minister added that Mr. Ramesh’s criticism lacked credibility and said, “Maybe your ‘environmentalist hat’ would be credible if you questioned your party colleague Ashok Gehlot about who destroyed the Aravallis.”

Mr. Yadav also rejected the Congress claim that over 90% of the Aravallis would lose protection under the redefinition. In another post on X, he said, “You and your coterie are rattled because we have issued a total ban on mining in the Aravallis from Gujarat to Delhi.”

Responding to this, Mr. Ramesh accused the Minister of continuing to “mislead” and “misinform” on the issue. He alleged that the FSI, now under the administrative control of the Ministry, would say “whatever the Minister wants and is directed to”. He further said that an internal assessment by the FSI had raised concerns and asked why the Ministry was not directing the agency to carry out a formal study and publish elevation data for the hills spread across 15 districts of Rajasthan.

Following the controversy over the redefinition of the Aravallis, the Centre on Wednesday issued directions to States imposing a complete ban on granting new mining leases within the mountain range.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests has also directed the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education to identify additional areas and zones across the Aravallis where mining should be prohibited, over and above the areas already notified by the Centre.