India, Dec. 25 -- The Supreme Court's directives to the central government and its claim that 'No new mining leases be granted' for the Aravallis is not entirely true.

This particular direction of the apex court and the recommendation of the Union government only apply with respect to general minerals.

According to the report of the panel tasked by the Supreme Court with defining the Aravalli hills titled Uniform definition of Aravalli Hills and Ranges, the members were of the view that these restrictions on mining projects should only be applied to grant of new leases for general minerals and are not applicable for critical strategic and atomic minerals.

These atomic minerals are notified in the First Schedule of Mines and Minerals (D...