Bhajanlal government is distributing new leases in Aravalli, disregarding the Supreme Court’s decision
Mining department’s orders expose the truth: Ashok Gehlot
The Sunday Mail
Jaipur, Rajasthan: Former Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot, has expressed deep anger over the state government’s process of issuing new mining leases in the Aravalli region despite clear instructions from the Supreme Court. He said that on one hand, the central government is claiming to protect the Aravalli range, while on the other hand, the BJP government in Rajasthan is flouting the Supreme Court’s orders.
Contradiction in statements of the Chief Minister and the Union Minister:
Gehlot said that Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav is claiming that according to the Supreme Court’s order, no new mining lease will be granted on any hill in the Aravalli range, whether higher or lower than 100 meters, until the ‘Management Plan for Sustainable Mining’ (MPSM) is prepared. But the Rajasthan government, on November 14, 2025, issued order number: Nide/A.Kh.A. Auction/Auction (ML 10)/2025/E-13327, initiating the process of issuing 126 new mining leases, of which 50 leases are in the Aravalli range, spread across 9 districts: Jaipur, Alwar, Jhunjhunu, Rajsamand, Udaipur, Ajmer, Sikar, Pali, and Beawar. Despite the Supreme Court’s decision on November 20, the auction process for the 50 mining leases in the Aravalli range was not stopped. Instead, an order was issued on November 30, 2025, certifying that these 50 leases, despite being in the Aravalli range, are not part of the Aravalli hills.
Disregard for the Supreme Court’s order:
The former Chief Minister questioned on what basis the Rajasthan government is continuing the auction when the Supreme Court has clearly banned new leases without the MPSM. The government auctioned these leases in December, arguing in the High Court that these hills are below 100 meters and therefore do not fall under the Aravalli range, while the Supreme Court’s MPSM (Mining Plan Approval System) judgment applies to hills both above and below 100 meters. This is not only against the spirit of the Supreme Court’s judgment but also a major conspiracy to erase the existence of the Aravalli range. This is an example of how, in the coming days, attempts will be made to carry out mining throughout the Aravalli range by finding technical loopholes under the guise of the Supreme Court’s judgment.
*The movement of saints and the government’s seriousness:*
Mr. Gehlot sarcastically remarked that Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has been giving speeches about saving the Aravalli range for two days, but in Deeg, a neighboring district of his home district Bharatpur, saints are sitting on a dharna against illegal mining. The Aravalli range is not safe in his own area, and he is going elsewhere to give sermons.
*The government is running away from accountability:*
Gehlot alleged that Bhupendra Yadav has neither been able to answer questions about weakening the ‘Central Empowered Committee’ (CEC) nor has he been able to give any explanation for the changes made in the Sariska Protected Area in just three days. Gehlot said that since the Chief Minister himself is also the Mining Minister, he should answer to the people of the state whether “he will issue new leases in the Aravalli range without MPSM, going against the Supreme Court’s judgment and the statements of his own Union Minister?”
