Data from Rajasthan show that districts falling within the Aravalli Hills face a disproportionate burden of illegal mining. Although these districts hold fewer legal mining leases and contribute a smaller share to mineral production, they account for most illegal mining cases. More than three-fourths of all FIRs related to illegal mining are registered from the Aravalli belt. Experts warn that proposed changes to the legal definition of Aravalli hills could further weaken environmental safeguards.

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• Aravalli districts in Rajasthan cover nearly 70% of the Aravalli mountain range, making them ecologically significant and highly sensitive to mining-related degradation.
• These districts account for less than 45% of the state’s mining leases, indicating limited authorised mining activity compared to their geographical spread.
• Despite fewer leases, the Aravalli districts contribute only around 40% of Rajasthan’s total mineral output, highlighting lower legal extraction levels.
• Their share of illegal mining cases exceeds 56%, showing widespread violations concentrated in the Aravalli region.
• More than 77% of all FIRs registered for illegal mining in Rajasthan originate from Aravalli districts.
• This imbalance clearly establishes the Aravalli belt as the epicentre of Rajasthan’s illegal mining crisis.
• Proposed changes redefining what qualifies as an ‘Aravalli hill’ may remove mining restrictions from large protected areas.
• Environmentalists warn that such legal changes could intensify illegal mining instead of controlling it.