India, Nov. 20 -- The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday took an unprecedented step by directing the preparation of a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) for all districts in the Aravalli range, mandating a uniform definition of the Aravalli hills, and barring states from issuing new mining leases until the plan is finalised.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan R. Gavai said, "We, however, direct the MoEF&CC (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change) to prepare a MPSM through Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) for the entire Aravalis extending from Gujarat to Delhi. We further direct that till the MPSM is finalised by the MoEF&CC through ICFRE, no new mining leases sho...