Rajasthan MPs, ecologists seek wider consultations as Aravallis panel deadline nears

As the deadline for the high-powered committee examining the Aravallis issue approaches, Rajasthan's leaders and noted experts have called for wider consultations. Congress MLA Tikaram Jully, along with MPs from the state and independent experts such as ecologist Pradip Krishen, have written to the panel, urging it to seek more time from the court to evaluate the issues.

Jully pointed out gaps in stakeholder engagement across Rajasthan, noting that the panel covered only a few districts despite the Aravallis' extensive reach across the state. MP Rajkumar Roat, from the Bharat Adivasi Party, and Amra Ram, from the Communist Party of India (Marxist), have also submitted their views, highlighting health and environmental concerns caused by mining activities in the region.

Roat, a Bhil community member, emphasized the long-standing relationship of tribal people with the Aravalli hills, forests, and rivers, and demanded the extension of the HPC's deadline, suggesting that the panel should consult health experts and cancel leases of mining companies violating regulations. Ecologist Pradip Krishen wrote that the panel has a historical chance to save the natural barrier against desertification and preserve the aquifers it houses.

He stressed the need for a comprehensive environmental and social impact study involving reputable independent institutions and various domain experts. The HPC was established in May with the mandate to resolve ambiguities related to an earlier panel's report, which defined the Aravallis as any landform within the region with an elevation of 100 meters or above local relief.