India, Dec. 22 -- Amid the ongoing protests demanding protection of Aravalli hills after the Supreme Court approved the Centre's recommendations for sustainable mining there, Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav backed the new norms and assured that the mountain range remains under robust ecological protection as mining activity will only be allowed in a mere "0.19 per cent of the area".

"Mining activity in the Aravalli range will only be possible in 0.19 per cent of the area, which is less than one per cent, and even there, no new mines have been opened... This process has been made stricter. The main problem in the Aravalli range is illegal mining. To stop illegal mining, the Supreme Court has given this definition, and a review ...