India, Dec. 30 -- Environmentalists objecting to the new definition of Aravallis welcomed the Supreme Court's move to stay its order on redefining Aravallis on Monday and demanded that the new panel to study the issue should also have environment experts and not just bureaucrats.

The Supreme Court kept in abeyance the directions in its November 20 verdict that had accepted a uniform definition of the Aravalli hills and ranges recommended by a committee of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC). It also proposed to constitute a high-powered committee comprising domain experts to undertake an exhaustive and holistic examination of the issue.

Environmentalist Bhavreen Kandhari said the manner in which mining has be...