NEW DELHI: To protect the Aravali hills and ranges - the only barrier against desertification of the Gangetic plains - Supreme Court Thursday barred grant of mining leases, but allowed existing ones to operate, while asking the Centre to prepare a management plan for sustainable mining for the entire range spread across four states. This is the last judgment to be authored by CJI B R Gavai, who as head of the green bench had zealously protected environment, ecology and forests while balancing the court's directions with sustainable development principles. The bench of CJI Gavai and Justices K Vinod Chandran and N V Anjaria accepted the definition of Aravali hills and ranges recommended by an expert committee and prohibited mining in core/inviolate areas, with certain exceptions. The

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