New Delhi, Dec. 23 -- Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday expressed serious concerns and doubts following recent clarifications by the union Minister of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change on the contentious issue of mining in the Aravalli mountain range.
In a detailed statement, Ramesh questioned the validity of the data cited by the Ministry and the implications of a new definition that could potentially open up large tracts of the ecologically sensitive Aravallis to mining and real estate development.
"The Minister says that only 0.19 percent of the 1.44 lakh square kilometers of the Aravallis is presently under mining leases. This already amounts to 68,000 acres, which is a huge amount," Ramesh pointed out.
He added ...