Environmentalists alert SC panel over Aravallis public consultation
Environmentalists say the SC-formed HPC on the Aravallis did not conduct adequate public consultation or field studies as its report deadline looms. They urge broader participation and a more comprehensive Environmental and Social Impact Study across all Aravalli districts.
Key takeaways
- AVJA alleges insufficient scientific study, public consultation, and field visits by the HPC examining the Aravallis.
- The August 31 deadline for HPC submission is cited as approaching by AVJA.
- Experts urge a wider, inclusive process and a cross-district Environmental and Social Impact Study.
What Happened
Environmentalists and activists, united under AVJA (Aravalli Virasat Jan Abhiyan), wrote to the Supreme Court–constituted high-powered committee (HPC) overseeing the Aravallis, arguing that the review has lacked sufficient scientific study, public consultation, and field visits. The group highlighted the approaching August 31 deadline for the HPC to submit its report and called for more time, broader outreach, independent expert input, and inclusive field work involving rural and adivasi communities.
Key figures cited include Pradip Krishen, who has worked in Aravalli landscapes across Delhi, Haryana, and Rajasthan, and Stalin Dayanand, director of Vanashakti. Krishen suggested a cumulative Environmental and Social Impact Study spanning all 64 Aravalli districts, while Dayanand stressed broadening consultation and local participation before the panel finalizes its findings."
Why It Matters
The dispute sits at the intersection of environmental protection and policy review. If the HPC proceeds without enhanced consultation and comprehensive field verification, the legitimacy and usefulness of its assessment for long-term management of the Aravallis could be questioned. The issues raised touch on how future decisions about the range will be informed and who will be included in the decision-making process.
Background
In December, the Supreme Court upheld a government expert panel’s definition of the Aravallis, limiting the range to hills above 100 metres and related clusters within 500 metres of each other. The judgment was based on a report from a committee led by the MoEFCC Secretary. On May 25, the Court formed the HPC with the Director General of ICFRE as chair and a MoEFCC director-level official as Member Secretary, to evaluate a report dated October 3, 2025, that informed the November 20 judgment. The HPC was instructed to examine this prior report as part of its work.
Key Facts
- AVJA states the HPC has not conducted adequate scientific study, public consultation, or field trips across the Aravalli ranges.
- The August 31 deadline for the HPC to submit its report was cited as approaching in the AVJA letter.
- Pradip Krishen called for a cumulative Environmental and Social Impact Study covering all 64 Aravalli districts.
- Stalin Dayanand urged the HPC to extend the consultation, involve independent experts, and include local communities in field visits.
- SC oversight previously involved a MoEFCC secretary-led committee; the HPC was formed on May 25 to review that earlier report from October 3, 2025.
What Happens Next
The report notes the HPC is under a deadline to deliver findings by the end of August 2026, with AVJA’s communication signaling a desire for a more inclusive and thorough process before submission. Whether the HPC accepts this call for extended consultation and additional studies remains to be seen, and any next steps will depend on the Court’s response to the petitioners and the HPC’s internal assessments.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
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