Relevance for UPSC: GS Paper III (Environment, Mining, Sustainable Development)
Source: The Hindu ; Orders of the Supreme Court of India, reports of the Forest Survey of India

Context

The Supreme Court has barred fresh mining leases in the Aravalli Range until a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining is finalised under central supervision. The issue has triggered debate on environmental governance and alleged greenwashing.

Core Issues

• Ecological importance: The Aravallis act as a groundwater recharge zone, barrier against desertification, and support regional biodiversity.
• Definition dispute: An expert proposal to define Aravalli hills as landforms 100 metres above local relief could exclude about 90 percent of traditionally recognised hill area, weakening protection.
• Federal tension: States depend on mining revenue, while environmental regulation requires strong central oversight, creating enforcement gaps.
• Greenwashing concern: Initiatives like the Aravalli Green Wall Project are criticised as symbolic, since afforestation cannot replace natural hill ecosystems.

Q. Consider the following statements about the Aravalli Range:

1. It plays a role in groundwater recharge and checks desertification in north-west India.
2. Redefinition of hills based only on local relief can reduce the area under environmental protection.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?