New Delhi: The Congress on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to stay its November 20 order endorsing a new definition of the Aravalli range, and demanded the immediate resignation of Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, claiming that all arguments advanced by him in support of the redefinition had been rejected.

The apex court put on hold its earlier directions that had accepted a uniform definition of the Aravalli hills and ranges proposed by a committee of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. It also indicated that a high-powered committee of domain experts would be constituted to carry out a comprehensive and holistic review of the issue.

Under the proposed definition, an Aravalli Hill was described as any landform in designated Aravalli districts with an elevation of at least 100 metres above local relief, while an Aravalli Range would consist of two or more such hills located within 500 metres of one another.

ALSO READ  | Supreme Court stays Nov 20 verdict narrowing Aravalli definition

The Congress had strongly opposed the move, warning that the redefinition could pave the way for large-scale mining, real estate development and other commercial activities, leading to irreversible damage to the fragile hill system.

Reacting to the court’s latest order, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said it offered a “flicker of hope”. In a post on X, he said the party welcomed the Supreme Court’s directions on what he described as a redefinition being pushed by the Narendra Modi government.

Ramesh said the matter would now be examined in greater depth and recalled that the proposed redefinition had faced opposition from the Forest Survey of India, the Supreme Court’s Central Empowered Committee, and even the court-appointed amicus curiae.

While describing the order as a temporary relief, he said the fight to protect the Aravallis from what he termed the government’s attempts to open the region to mining, real estate and other activities would need to continue in a sustained manner.

Ramesh also reiterated his demand for the resignation of the Union environment minister, stating that the Supreme Court’s order amounted to a rejection of all the arguments advanced in favour of the redefinition.