India's Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has imposed a comprehensive ban on granting new mining leases across the entire Aravallis range, covering the stretch from Delhi to Gujarat, local media reported.

The prohibition will serve as a unified approach to preserving the geological and ecological integrity of the ancient rigid, according to the report.

The mining of critical, strategic, and atomic minerals is exempted from the ban, as these minerals are essential for national security and economic development, the report said.

MoEF&CC has instructed the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) to identify additional areas where mining activities should be banned beyond zones already restricted.

ICFRE has also been requested to establish a science-based Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) for the entire Aravalli region, prioritizing ecological conservation and addressing environmental impacts.

For mining operations already underway, the MoEF&CC required state governments to ensure strict compliance with environmental safeguard and adherence to Supreme Court orders. Existing mines are to be regulated with additional restrictions to ensure environmental protection and sustainable mining practices.

The government said these measures reflected its commitment to safeguarding the Aravalli ecosystem, highlighting its role in preventing desertification, conserving biodiversity, recharging aquifers and providing critical environmental services to the region.