Illegal mining in the Aravalli range must stop, says SC

• The Supreme Court said illegal mining in the Aravalli range in Rajasthan must stop.
• What action has been taken against illegal mining, SC bench asked Solicitor General appearing for Rajasthan.

Key Highlights:

• Aravalli is the only geographical feature that stops dry winds from coming to the Gangetic Plains dry winds that come from Afghanistan and Pakistan.
• Aravalli is a natural barrier for North India .
• The court in November 2023 had taken note of palaeolithic findings in the Aravalli
• It directed the Archaeological Survey of India to protect the site, which could even be part of national heritage.

Aravalli:

• Oldest fold mountains of the world.
• It runs approximately 670 km in a south-west direction, starting near Delhi, passing through southern Haryana and Rajasthan, and ending in Gujarat.
• The highest peak is Guru Shikhar at 1,722 metres (5,650 ft). Guru is a peak in the Arbuda Mountains of Rajasthan.
• Three major rivers and their tributaries flow from the Aravalli,
• namely Banas and Sahibi rivers which are tributaries of Chambal and Yamuna respectively, and Luni River which flows into the Rann of Kutch.

Prelims Takeaway:

• Aravalli
• Fold Mountains