Mining the Aravalis – Digging to

death

A Reality Check – a presentation by :

D.P Bankhwal(06)
Ritu Shukla(24)
Vijay Kumar(32)
Rationale for selecting this subject
• Classic case presenting the importance of SD

• Shows in action the concepts learnt during the course such

as developmental efforts, environmental degradation, demise
of local institutions ,contrasting public policies, diverse public
authorities, local participation and collective action

• Topical issue with extensive coverage in Media – coverage

on daily basis inThe Times Of India and Indian Express

• Cases in SC and HC-decision awaited anxiously by all

concerned

• Group feels passionately about the issue

 Flow of presentation
• Importance of Aravalis.
• SD issues (3 minute video )
• Over-exploitation of Aravalis and its ecological, economic
and social dimensions.
• Stakeholder/actors
• Multiplicity of laws-legal pluralism
• Legal requirements of mining-EIA/EMP
• Aravalis in last 20 years
• Conflicting interests
• Aravalis in legal storm
• Recent Furore
 Flow of presentation (contd.)
• CGWB report on ground water depletion
• CEC recommendations
• CPCB study on environmental degradation
• Way forward suggested by CPCB
• Experience in rehabilitating Mussorie hills
• conclusion
 The Aravalis
• Oldest mountains (600 to 700 million yrs
old) even older than Himalayas (50 to 60
million yrs old)
•Truncated in range and height over the
millennia
•Extends from Delhi south-west (called
Delhi Ridge) to near Ahmedabad for a
distance of about 800 km.
 Aravali Hills contd.
• In the past, the entire length of this range was a
complete barrier to all kinds of movements from east
to west; today, the effectiveness of the barrier is felt
only in the central and southern parts.
• In the north, many wide water gaps run transverse to
the range, facilitating easy movement of all kinds of
traffic and even sands from the western arid plains to
the eastern humid plains
• Guru Sikhar (1722 m) on the Abu hills is the highest
peak of the Aravalli, and Abu (1158 m) the only hill
station in Rajasthan
• (Source: The Gazetteer of India, Min. of I&B)
 Aravalis across states
• Spread over 4 States
– Two districts in Gujarat (23 Tehsils)
– 18 district in Rajasthan (127 Tehsils)
– 5 districts in Haryana (23 Tehsils) :Gurgaon,
Faridabad, Mahendragarh, Bhiwani and
Rewari
– Delhi
 Aravalis –The Shield
• The Aravali Hill Range act as a natural barrier between the “Thar” desert
and rest of the country. Trees play an important role as shelterbelt against
the march of desert, while the leaf litter adds to humus.
• Trees and other vegetation provide protection from desiccating hot winds
from the south
• Enriched soil makes the areas amenable for graduating into higher
ecological succession and biological diversity.
• Ecologically this region is one of the 26 endemic centers of biodiversity
identified in India. Because of long history of human settlement and over
exploitation, the biodiversity of the region is threatened.
• Provide catchments to the streams/ rivers; provide natural head for irrigation
dam/ anicut
 Aravali – the treasure house
• Hills and the lakes in its laps
provide scenic beauty –
great tourism sites
• Vegetation is rich and varies
from tropical thorn forests to
semi-evergreen forests
• Store house of minerals
such as marble, gypsum,
rock phosphate, limestone,
asbestos and building
material
 Sustainable Development &
Aravalis ?
• Present un-mindful exploitation of Aravalis (mining,
colonizing, grazing, fuel wood ) has led to serious
ecological, social & economic problems
• The pace of exploitation of the natural resources in
the region is creating pressures on the lives of the
present generations and the environment
• The present scenario appears so grim and bleak that
there appears no future if this pace of un-mindful
development is not restrained
 Over-exploitation of Aravalis & its
effects on Ecology
• Ripping off top vegetation cover for mining is
resulting in loss of top sponge (provided by
vegetation) for recharging the aquifer .It
. takes
nearly 100 (in tropical conditions) to 1200(in
arid conditions) years for formation of top
(nutrient-rich) 1inch of soil.
• Resulted in loss of sponge (provided by
vegetation) for recharging the groundwater
aquifers – the life support system for water
scarce state like Haryana .Decline in recharge
of aquifers will result in severe water shortage
to the nearby towns and villages
• Badkhal Lake, Surajkund and Damdama Lake
have turned dry; allegedly due to tinkering with
the sensitive ecosystem of Aravali (mainly
mining activity)
• These picnic spots have now lost their value
• The impact is said to be due to mining before
the supreme court imposed ban Google Earth image of dried up Dhauj
lake
 Over-exploitation of Aravalis & its
effects on Ecology
• The gaping mine holes were never rehabilitated; result: the rainwater
does not reach the water bodies
• In many cases, the mining pits have breached the ground water level
and hence slowly these water bodies have dried up
• Chandigarh office of the Central Ground Water says that mining pits
were found filled with water leading to massive evaporation of ground
water
• It has also mentioned that mining was mainly carried out below the
water table by pumping out of ground water and dewatering of the
mines had affected the groundwater regime, resulting in depletion of
groundwater resources
• Natural drainage pattern has also altered due to mining and dumping of
waste material.
Over-exploitation of Aravalis & its
effects on economy
• Tourism value is being lost due
to the scarring of landscape
and drying up of water bodies
such as Badhkal lake
• Deforestation , grazing, fuel
wood collection are leading to
danger of extinction of flora and
fauna- even endangering the
tiger (Sariska & Ranthambhor)
• Productivity of farms is getting
adversely affected due to loss
of water and scree/ debris
• Common Property (Land)
Resource –source of
livelihood ,fodder and firewood
for local people such as poor
grazers, is getting lost
• No alternate source of income
 Over-exploitation of Aravalis & its
social effects
• Benefit to society is in the form of building material
and wage labor to the poor, but the maximum
beneficiaries are contractors, suppliers and builders
• Majority of the population in the proximity of the
mines are losers
• Health of the people adversely affected, may be
insidiously, due to fugitive (suspended particulate
matter) pollutants
• Mining accidents due to unsafe mining practices
• Value of CPR is diminished
• Gender issues such as drudgery of women – cover
wider distances for collection of natural resources
• Change in livelihood patterns due to demise of local
institutions and traditional means of livelihood
• Migration to cities and ill –effects of urbanization
• Not a WIN- WIN situation for all
 Actors In the Aravalis Saga
• Local population residing in & around Aravalis
• Mining Industry
• Mine workers
• Colonizers
• NGOs, Environmentalists
• Judiciary
– Supreme Court (assisted by Central Empowered Committee constituted in
2002)
– Punjab & Haryana High Court
• Public Authorities
– MOEF
– Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
– Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)
– Bureau Of Mines
– State Government
• Department of Forest
• Department Of Mines
• Urban Development Authority (Such as HUDA)
• Department Of Fisheries
• District Administration & Police Authorities
 Multiplicity of laws Governing The
Aravalis – Legal pluralism
• For Mining Purposes , 50 different laws/
acts relating to environment by different
authorities are in practice
• Forest Conservation Act
• Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986
• Mineral Conservation and Development
Rules, 1988
• Punjab Land Preservation Act 1900
• Mores & Customs
 Legal Requirements for Mining
• As per MOEF’s notification dated
27.01.1994, later superceded by notif.dated
14.9.2006, environmental clearance (after
EIA) from MOEF is required for all mining
leases of major minerals for 5 ha and above
• In addition to this, a special notification,
Aravalli notification dtd 7.5 1994 is in force,
which provides that in Gurgaon and Alwar
district no mining (including minor minerals)
is permitted without prior approval of the
MOEF
• For mining of major minerals, Mining Plans
and Environmental Management Plans
(EMP’s) are required to be approved by the
Indian Bureau of Mines
• As per section 2 of the Forest
(Conservation) Act, 1980 , prior approval of
the Central Government is required before
undertaking mining in any forest area.
 Environmental Impact Assessment
• Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 makes EIA
mandatory for 30 categories of developmental projects
• Objective of EIA is to foresee and address potential
environmental problems/concerns at an early stage of
project planning and design
• EIA/EMP should assist planners and government
authorities in decision making process by identifying the
key impacts/issues and formulating mitigation measures
• MoEF has issued sectoral guidelines for the purpose
 Environmental Management Plan
(EMP)
• Required for formulation, implementation and
monitoring of environmental protection
measures during and after commissioning of
projects.
• Cost of measures for environmental safeguards
should be treated as an integral component of
the project cost and environmental aspects
should be taken into account at various stages
of the projects:
 SD –EIA & EMP
• No technique exists that can reliably identify and
price all of the environmental and social costs of a
project
• According to R.F.Mikesell (1994): For a project to be
sustainable, following conditions must be met-
1. Depleted renewable natural resources must be
restored
2. Compensation to future generations for depleted
non-renewable natural resource capital must be
included in the social cost of the project; and
3. Damage to life-supporting natural resources and
environmental assets must be avoided.
 SD –EIA & EMP (contd.)
• It would be unrealistic to assume that, in economic terms, real loss from
the depletion of natural resources can be replaced.
• Although there are no blueprints for transition to environmental
sustainability, there are policy reforms that could reduce environmental
degradation.
• One of the most frequently used method is the Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA). But, globally the experience has shown that EIA &
EMP are not enough to achieve the environmental sustainability of
natural resources.
• Public participation is required
• The EIA rules of the MoEF also call for public hearing.
• But, what the observers and critics say that participation of the public in ‘public’
hearing is almost negligible
• Compliance of guidelines of EIA and implementation of EMP in many leased area
are said to be lax
• Monitoring mechanism does not seem to be strict and transparent, and does not
involve the local stakeholders
 Aravalis in the last 20 years
• In Haryana, areas notified under Section 4 and 5 of the Punjab Land
Preservation Act, 1900 are forest for the purpose of FC Act but the
state government has been taking different stands as regard to
whether the land is forest or not
• An Aravali Rehabilitation Project was executed in this area with an
expenditure of Rs. 115.6 crore (1991-92 to 1998-99) with
European Union grant of Rs. 89.3 crore. As per the agreement, no
mining was to be allowed in this area for 21 years. But conditions
have been flouted.
• This project reaped benefits with forest cover seeing an increase by
329% (HARSAC study) . State of Forests Report 1999 by Forest
Survey of India also indicated increase of 360 sq. km forest cover in
the state
• Government pursuing a policy of rehabilitation and mining at same
time -total policy failure-typical govt functioning-depts working at
cross purposes
 Mines from 1994 to 2002 in Faridabad
and Gurgaon Districts
• There are 38 mines which were operating up to 5 km from
Delhi-Haryana border in Faridabad and Gurgaon districts
before they were closed down pursuant to the Court’s order
dated 6.5.2002. Out of these:

• 25 are in Faridabad district (7 mining leases for major and associated

minor mineral granted / renewed prior to 27.1.1994, 12 mining leases for
major and associated minor minerals granted/renewed after 27.1.1994
and 6 mining leases for minor minerals granted through public auction)

• 13 are in Gurgaon district (7 mining leases for major mineral along with
mining mineral, 2 mining leases for major mineral and 4 mining leases
for minor minerals).
 Contd.
• Out of the above, 11
mines fall within 2 to 5
km from Badkal Lake and
Surajkund, where mining
was earlier allowed to be
resumed pursuant to the
Supreme Court’s order
dated 10.5.1996
• (Source: Empowered
Committee of GoI)

The vanishing lake

 Conflicting Interests
Conflicting rights and interests
• Mine owners view
– Stopping of mining in this area would render thousands of
people, mostly poor, jobless
– Cessation of mining would deprive Haryana of royalty income.
– Construction material scarcity in Delhi-CWG 2010.
• The other view
– Over 95% of the workers in mines are migrant labour. They will
move elsewhere.
– Royality would come from other mines.
– Construction material would also come from elsewhere as big
builders have already got committed suppliers from Rajasthan
 Aravalis in Legal storm
• In Dec 12, 1996, SC in a major judgement has defined what
constitutes forest in its judgement banning mining in Doon Valley.
• As per the judgement, Forest was defined as the
– Land that was notified as forest under the Indian Forest Act,
– Land that had characteristics of a forest irrespective of ownership
– And even land where there was once a forest
• The judgement also said that any diversion for "non-forest
purposes" (like mining) would require prior approval from the Central
government
• Environmentalist MC Mehta filed a PIL to save Aravalis in SC
• To assist the SC in this case, the Central Empowered Committee
(CEC) was constituted by Supreme Court by its order dated
9.5.2002
 Aravalis in Legal storm
• The SC put a total ban on mining in the entire Aravalli hills from Haryana to
Rajasthan inOct, 2002. The ban was not limited to hills encircling Kote and
Alampur villages but extended to the entire hill range of Aravalli from Haryana to
Rajasthan," said the order.
• The Chief Secretaries of Haryana and Rajasthan were directed to ensure that no
mining activity in the Aravalli hills was carried out, especially in the part which had
been regarded as forest area or protected under the Environment (Protection) Act.
• Initially there was a confusion on whether the ban would apply to entire range, but
it has been clarified that barring in Dholpur, every single mine in the range would
be closed. "The entire Aravalli range was a forest area, whether protected or not,
hence for now all mining activity had to stop.
• The Supreme Court's "blanket ban" came in the face of strong opposition by
several influential mine-owners-including Haryana politicians - and the Chautala
government itself who had been claiming that a ban on mining was neither good
environment nor good economics
 Aravalis in Legal storm -CEC
Report 2003
The main observations of the CEC reports are as under:
• Most of the stipulated conditions while approving mining plan or
granting environmental clearances have not been fulfilled. Almost
all the mines are operating in violation of conditions of approved
mining plans.
• The assumption on the basis of which powers for granting
environmental clearance were delegated to the State of Haryana
under the Aravalli notification have been found to be incorrect.
• There is no effective mechanism in place to ensure compliance of
the conditions on which approvals / clearances were granted.
• Mining leases have been granted in areas where plantations have
been undertaken with the financial assistance provided by
European Union.
• Mining activity in areas notified under Section 4 and 5 of the PLPA,
though areas recorded as forest, approval under the FC Act from
the MOEF has not been obtained.
 Aravalis in Legal storm
• Supreme Court lifted its total ban on mining activities and
permitted the same in forest areas if prior permission was
obtained under the Forest Conservation Act and
Environment Protection Act. However, it categorically
stated that no mining activity, even with prior permission
under these two Acts, would be allowed in sanctuaries
and National Parks
• At the same time, in similar cases the SC has banned
mining in, Kudremukh Mines (2005), iron mines
inGoa(2007) and in Vedanta Ltd.’s case alumininum
mining in the Niyamgiri hills (2007) in Orissa and Panna
Mines in MP(judgement awaited).
 Aravalis in Legal storm
• In its 2004 judgment on the Bhurelal Committee
report, the Supreme Court had ordered the
closure of all mining activities in the Aravallis,
except a few that were added later.
• The court had, in an earlier judgment, also
ordered that excavated pits in the area be filled
up with immediate effect and an afforestation
drive be carried out in the area.
 Recent Furore
• Bhatkal and Surajkund lakes have gone
completely dry due to the ongoing
construction activities in their neighborhood
• CGWB report says, “Mining activities in
areas like Pali, Mohabbatabad, Anangpur
and Manger villages were mainly carried out
below the water table by pumping out
groundwater. This has affected the
groundwater reserves, resulting in depletion
of groundwater resources... the natural
drainage pattern has also altered due to
mining and dumping of waste material,”.
• Media reports show that the “abandoned
mines have been left open, and the entire
region pockmarked is with deep pits and
overburdens (earth dug out from the pits)”.
 Recent Furore

• According to the recent report by

the SC-constituted Central
Empowered Committee (CEC),
there are around 134 mines that
fall under the Sections 4 and 5 of
the Punjab Land Preservation Act
(PLPA), 1900. The report further
states: “Many of the mined pits
now have water in them... Treat
the entire Aravalli Hills of
Faridabad and Gurgaon districts
as prohibited zones for mining
except specific locations
exempted by the SC.”
 Recent Supreme Court Judgement

• In Feb,2008, the SC has expressed its concern over the impact of

mining activities amongst other on the water resources in the
area and asked MOEF to submit an affidavit regarding depletion of
ground water level due to Mining in Aravalis .(order dt 15 Feb, 2008)
• In the affidavit ,MoEF is directed to further clarify
• the water shortage that may happen in case the mining activities are
carried out
• whether water level is going down and water resource management
plan, water resource status and natural resource of these areas are to
be ascertained.
• To examine how many mining licences can be granted in the area
keeping in mind scarcity of ground water and other connected issues
 SC’s tough talk on 19th March,2009
• The Supreme Court talked tough while
showing its inclination for a total ban on
mining in the Aravali hill areas of Haryana's
Faridabad and Gurgaon districts, being
convinced that relentless battering of this
natural barrier would allow the western
desert to gradually eat up the grain bowl of
the Gangetic plains.

• The Bench said: ``The Central Empowered

Committee (CEC) has said there is total
devastation of the eco-sensitive Aravali hills.
If there is total devastation, natural corrollary
is total ban on mining. With the state
agreeing with the CEC's finding, you are on a
stronger wicket. But the question is who
should do it — the Supreme Court, the
Centre or the State Government''.
 Environment and Supreme Courts’ Views
Principles of Sustainable Development (SD)
• Precautionary Principle
• Polluter pays principle
• Safe Minimum Standards
 Environmental Impact due to
Mining Activities
• Over burden
• Soil Quality
• Land use pattern
• Air Quality
• Water Quality
• Recharge of ground
water
• Noise level
• Socio-economic impact
 Why Mining is threat to Ground
Water- CGWB Report April 2008
• Studied ground water regime in and
around mining areas of Faridabad
and Delhi
• After closure of mines, areas in the
Central and South western parts
have shown a rise in water levels
from 1.19 m to 8.15 during 2003 to
2007, despite 3 years being deficit
rainfall years
• From a total area of 902481 sq.m of
exposed water table, accumulated
loss of 8,86,891 cu.mt. of fresh
water is occurring every year
• Village Bhatti: during 1996 to 2003
(mining time) water level fell from
30 m to 47 m and then from 2003 to
2007 (mines closed) water level
rose a net by 2 m.
 CEC’s Recommendations
CEC offered the following suggestions for restoration of
Aravalis
• ban on mining activity may continue up to 2 km from
Surajkund and Badkal Lakes, as per the Court’s order dated
10.5.1996;
• each of the existing mines may be physically inspected by
Inspection Team(s) comprising officials of the State
Government, Indian Bureau of Mines, Director General of
Mines Safety and the Ministry of Environment and Forest to
report the specific conditions which have not been
fulfilled/violated especially in respect of:
• section-wise (bench-wise) mining to be done as per approved mining
plan;
• storage of top soil as per approved mining plan;
 CEC’s Recommendations
• Dumping of over-burden in identified area as per the
approval mining plan;
• Plantations as per Environmental Management Plan;
• Observance of mines safety Rules and Regulations;
• Damage to the plantations raised under externally aided
projects (foreign funding);
• Damage if any to the water table / underground aquifers;
and
• Compliance of environmental clearance stipulations;
 CPCB study on environmental degradation
in Aravalli hills,2007
• As per central and state government ,lot of statutory requirements
need to be fulfilled. But on ground its implementation is minimal.
• Vide Gazette Notification of Ministry of Environment & Forests
dated 29th November, 1999, Government of India has inter alia
made provision for preparing the Master Plan integrating the
environmental concerns and the future land use of the area.
These are missing in master plans of Haryana districts.
• Government of Haryana has issued guidelines for setting as well
as operation of the crushers in an eco-friendly manner. But the
compliance is only partial.
• The identification of mines in the districts is difficult, so difficult to
find out polluters.
 CPCB study on environmental degradation
in Aravali hills,2007
• There is no identified land where over burden could be temporarily
dumped prior to being utilized for void filling and for other purposes.
• Inadequate knowledge on the part of mine and industrial operators
in respect of the environmental impacts due to mining and industrial
units respectively, is one of the key factors in environmental damage
caused in the district. Because of the lack of knowledge of how to
exploit the resource, maintain standards, the environmental
degradation takes place.
• Also, there is no willingness on the part of the mine operators /
owner of the crusher units for environmental improvement in and
around mine/processing plant sites.
 CPCB study on environmental degradation
in Aravalli hills,2007
• There exists an open access system of the plant resources available which is used for
fodder and fuel. Therefore community controlled regulated access system, required for
sustainable common land system in the Aravali Range, is inadequate.
• Since the percentage of goats and sheep is significant, there is lesser availability of
dung as fertilizer and as the fuels. There is growing consumption of chemical
fertilizers, which due to high ground water level in the southern part of the district, may
further increase the salinity. Besides, since the fuel availability is lesser, there is
increased dependence on the forests for fuel. This has also led to reduction in forest
cover in the district.
• The pace of the afforestation programme in the district need to be speeded up. But it
can not happen without fulfilling basic needs of the local people and their active
participation .
• There is need to consider the participation of people and specially the women folk for
the environmental programmes being executed in the district.
 Way forward-suggested by CPCB
• Eco-restroration programmes need to be chalked out by State Government
of Haryana in consultation with various government departments
• The state government should also monitor the progress in eco-restoration
efforts through satellite imagery at an interval of every 2 years
• Distt admn. should Identify the areas where illegal mining is being carried
out and immediately take legal action against such persons
• All the mining and stone crushers should be asked to display signboard
giving all the relevant information on the status of their lease / units. The
boundary line of the lease area should also be properly demarcated.
• Master Plans showing developmental plan of the district integrating
environmental concerns should be prepared and publicly displayed.
• Providing more opportunities for alternative employment in the district.
This should lessen the dependence on the hills and the forest produce,
thus helping in conservation off natural resources. Help of local reputed
NGOs may also be taken for the purpose.
 Way forward-suggested by CPCB
• For eco-restoration of the Aravali hills, participation of local community need to be
ensured. In addition, efforts should be there to increase awareness among the local
community regarding the need for protection of environment in the district.
• Efforts should be there to enhance shifting of attitude among the local community for
rearing of cows, buffaloes etc. in lieu of goats and sheep. This will increase the
biomass generation, increasing fertility of the soil and the productivity of the lands in
the district. This will improve the fuel and fodder scenario for the poorer section of the
society. Distribution of LPG cylinders may also be considered for the purpose.
• Regulated access of the common land in the district should be ensured to protect the
natural resources in the district through the formation of village forest committees etc.
• Action to be immediately started for rehabilitation of common lands in the region.
 Way forward-suggested by CPCB
• Watershed Management and rainwater harvesting to be implemented in
the Aravali hills regions on war footing.
• Possibilities of rehabilitation of the degraded lands in the form of
abandoned mine pits to water reservoir and eco-parks to be explored-
tourism potential or any other reclamation opportunity.
• Dept of Mines and Geology should conduct frequent inspections of the
mining operations to ensure that these are in line with the requirement for
sustainable development in the district.
• The minimum period of lease should be for 15-20 years. This will induce
the mine operators to take environmental protection measures more
seriously.
• Stone crushers should either be in identified zones or in the mining
leases. The crushers outside the zones should be brought into the zones
or in the mining lease areas in a phased manner.
 Way forward-suggested by CPCB
• CGWB should recognize the areas where water tables are
depleting and causing danger to the underground aquifer.
CGWB should display this data on their site on Internet for
the awareness of public and further usage for industrial
and urban planning.
• The Forest Department should fix the target for
afforestation and the same should be carried out in
phased manner. Efforts should be there to involve locals
also to protect the existing vegetation and the plantation,
which were carried out under the afforestation programme.
 Way Ahead
There may be two ways ahead
• Total ban on mining
– Will affect developmental efforts in the region (Transportation cost for
building material may increase)
– Illegal mining may still continue

• Allow Mining keeping sustainability of Aravalis in view

– Area of 600 hectares should be auctioned in a transparent manner. None
of the individual lease would exceed 30 hectares so as to ensure healthy
competition. This means there will now be 20 mining lease holders against
the current monopoly of one. It will kill monopoly.
– 30 hectares should be divided into two parts of 15 hectares each. Mining
in the second part- only after the first part is reclaimed and rehabilitated at
least up to 60%. Such norms would make it virtually impossible to carry
out the kind of pillage that has happened in the past.
– An Aravali Rehabilitation Fundshould be set up with contributions from
both the state government and the new lease holders (say 10% each)
– A monitoring committee, headed by the divisional commissioner, may be
set up to utilize the fund to heal the scars on the Aravali as has been
inflicted by past activities.
– Rehabilitation of the Aravalis giving it a breather as in the case of
Mussorie Hills
 Rehabilitation of Mined Area in
Mussoorie Hills
• To have maximum monetary benefits,
area was hazardously quarried
(dolomite) without taking into account
the deteriorating effects, like
denudation of the natural vegetation,
soil erosion, pollution of air and water,
blockade of roads, silting of reservoirs,
disruption of communication, spoilage
of good agricultural lands and
vanishing perennial springs.
• Contractors/industrialists after
quarrying abandoned mining sites,
which in turn aggravated the stated
problems.
 Rehabilitation of site (contd.)
• It is only in 1982, the lease period of most of
the mine owners completed and agreements
became invalid. Efforts and resolutions to save
natural beauty, vegetation and environment
were initiated by many organizations.
Consequently, the administrators, politicians,
planners and scientists started paying attention
to this problem.
• Hon'able Supreme Court of India banned
mining in majority of the mines under
Mussoorie hills in 1996
 Rehabilitation of Mussorie Mines
• Research efforts were attempted by the
scientists of CSWCR&TI, Dehradun and FRI,
Dehradun from 1983 onwards and developed
technologies for rehabilitation of mine spoils.
• Both mechanical and biological measures were
adapted in tandem to restore the disturbed
areas
 Mechanical measures (contd.)
• Mechanical Measures:
Studies conducted by these institutes
showed that structures like cross barriers/
check dams, log wood barriers, toe walls,
gabion structures, loose check dams, etc.,
arrest the movement of large amount of
loose rocks and spoil down the unstable and
uneven steep slopes of the area and also
through the drainage channels .
 Mechanical measures (contd.)
– Mechanical measures adopted
• planned placement of over burden in hilly terrain,
• provision of road drains and culverts,
• proper designing of water courses,
• construction of trenches on denuded long slopes, terracing of mine
spoil deposited in heaps,
• construction of gabion drop structures up to 40% slope, construction
of toe and retaining walls,
• chute spill way with cement concrete where the vertical fall is more
than 3 m etc.

These stated measures have been found very useful in grade

stabilization, retention of spoil particles, reduction in slope, retention
of run off and establishment of vegetation
 Biological Measures
• Biological measures
• It is very necessary and important to put the land to productive use
(agriculture, agro-forestry, forestry or recreation) and to maintain
aesthetic beauty, visual impact and ecology. Therefore, biological
measures with proper scientific techniques must be undertaken alone or
with mechanical measures.
• Though biological measures are cheaper than the mechanical, but in
certain situations they have to be adopted simultaneously depending
upon the site and physiographic conditions. Techniques adopted must
have positive effect on soil properties and plant growth.
• Different geotextiles viz. Geojute, Netlon, Geo-cell, Geo-grid, Excelsior
matting, Wire mesh (in 2m x 4m strips) proved effective to arrest soil and
to support vegetation on steep slopes (30-70%). Planting of soil binding
shrub, herb and grass species performed well.
 Impact of Measures

• With continued biotic protection together with

rehabilitation measures and protection against
grazing and cutting of grasses and MPTs, the
retrogression and erosion has come to stand still.
• The vegetal cover increased from 10% to more than
80% due to reforestation over a period of 14 years.

(Source: Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute, Dehradun and
Forest Research Institute, Dehradun)
 Conclusion
• Any future effort in respect of search for sustainable development in the
Aravali Range should broadly take into consideration
– resource potential in the region,
– the demand of the products, and
– the supply options
• Though the demand for the niche products existing in the Aravali Range will
continue to grow, the supply options need to be given a closer look due to eco-
sensitivity of the region.
• The environmental cost needs to be internalised in the cost of the product and
there is need to limit the supply options. The Aravali range prevents the desert
from spreading into Indo-Gangetic plains. So, all the future planning should not
only concentrate to meet the ever growing demand of the products but due
consideration should also be given to protect the chain.
• All the developmental activities should therefore be planned in a coherent
manner and there should be integrated approach for sustainable development
in the Aravali Region.
• Involvement of NGos & Community Organization with involvements of locals
for creating awareness and in afforestation efforts to revive the economy
 References
• CGWB’s Report on Mined Areas In Faridabad & Delhi , 2008
• CPCB Report on effect of pollution in Gurgaon District
(Aravali area),2007
• Rehabilitation of mined areas in Mussoorie A report by
CSWRTI and FRI, Dehradun CEC Reports
• Protection against Mining and Degradation of Land: Role of
Judiciary ,Prof. Gurdeep Singh & Vibhas Kumar, 2008
• Times of India
• Indian Express
 References
• Discussions with CF, Gurgaon,
Sh.R.P.Balwan
• Discussions with officials of CEC
• MOEF notifications
• Sc judgements on the issue