3 weeks ago
Civil Society Urges Aravalli Panel to Widen Consultations, Extend Deadline
The Supreme Court of India made a special group of people, called a high-powered committee, to study the Aravalli Hills.
The committee's job is to decide how to protect these old hills and the people who live near them.
But some people say the committee did not listen to the villagers.
The committee only visited four cities and did not come to many villages.
Some people say people connected to mining companies filled the meetings and scared others.
People from the Aravalli Virasat Jan Abhiyan want the committee to ask the Supreme Court for more time.
They want the committee to visit remote villages in all the districts across five states.
The committee has to give its report by August 31.
The group says no decision should be made without talking to the rural communities.
They hope listening to everyone will help protect the hills and the people who depend on them.
Civil society groups said the Supreme Court's high-powered committee (HPC) on the Aravallis left out several districts and did not adequately hear local people.
The Aravalli Virasat Jan Abhiyan demanded the HPC seek an extension of its August 31 deadline to submit its report.
The HPC's 21-day period for inviting comments from stakeholders ended a day before the demand was made.
Neelam Ahluwalia claimed about 80% of representations in Ajmer were pro-mining and that mining-affiliated people threatened critics of mining.
Groups cited an earlier panel recommendation defining Aravallis as landforms 100 m or more above local relief as a key issue the HPC must resolve.
- Who
- Civil society groups and communities affected by mining in the Aravalli region, including the Aravalli Virasat Jan Abhiyan, and the Supreme Court-appointed high-powered committee (HPC) on the Aravallis.
- What
- Groups demanded that the HPC hold broader consultations, hear more affected people, and seek an extension of its August 31 deadline to submit its report.
- Where
- The Aravalli region spanning Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat; field visits were held in Gurgaon, Alwar, Ajmer and Udaipur.
- When
- The demand came after the committee's 21-day comment period ended, following field visits held between August 6 and 10.
- Why
- Groups said the consultations left out several districts and did not hear local voices, and alleged threats from people affiliated with mining companies.
Civil society and affected communities
Mining lobby and pro-mining voices
Consultation process
Civil society and affected communities
The HPC's hearings were inadequate, left out many districts and villages, and were dominated by mining interests; about 80% of representations in Ajmer were pro-mining, and critics faced threats.
Mining lobby and pro-mining voices
Pro-mining voices made up the majority of representations at hearings such as those in Ajmer, indicating strong local support for mining activities in the region.
Impact of mining
Civil society and affected communities
Mining and stone crushers harm villagers' health, and affected communities were not visited by the committee despite requests to see the impact.
Mining lobby and pro-mining voices
Groups representing mining interests pushed back against criticism and sought to discourage villagers from speaking about mining's negative effects.
Aravalli protection definition
Civil society and affected communities
Defining Aravallis as landforms 100 m or more above local relief could leave more than 90% of the vulnerable range outside protection, allowing mining and construction.
Mining lobby and pro-mining voices
The 100 m elevation-based definition was initially accepted by the Supreme Court before being stayed, reflecting a narrow, survey-based view of what counts as Aravalli terrain.
Key facts
- HPC report deadline
- August 31
- Stakeholder comment period
- 21 days
- Field visit cities
- Gurgaon, Alwar, Ajmer, Udaipur
- Field visit dates
- August 6-10
- States with affected districts
- Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat
- Districts demanding consultation
- 64
- Claimed pro-mining representations in Ajmer
- About 80% per Neelam Ahluwalia
- HPC constituted
- May, by the Supreme Court after an earlier panel report
Quotes
Kailash Chand Yadhav
Secretary of Jodhpura Sangharsh Samiti
“Our biggest demand from this committee is that it needs to write to the SC and get an extension on the August 31 deadline. Without meaningful consultations with the rural communities in all the 64 districts in Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, no decision should be taken.”
indianexpress.com
“The committee members did not come to the village despite the visit being there on their agenda for the day. For one hour, they had lunch in a hotel, which was barely a few km from our village.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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