New Delhi:
After an NDTV expose on illegal mining on the Aravallis, the Supreme Court has ordered that the leases of 157 mines in the Aravali hills of Rajasthan that were up for renewal, not be renewed until till the court arrives at a final decision.
The apex court also ordered that satellite mapping of 50 thousand sq km of the Aravalis in Rajasthan be carried out to determine the extent of devastation caused by illegal mining in the state.
The Rajasthan chief minister had also recently said that his government would crack down against illegal mining, and also deploy two companies of home guards at vulnerable sites.
Environmentalists have welcomed the Supreme Court decision but say that more needs to be done.