Jaipur, Aug 26 (IANS) Rajasthan Leader of the Opposition (LoP), Tikaram Jully, has urged the Supreme Court‑appointed High‑Powered Committee on Aravalli conservation to extend the deadline for submitting its report, currently scheduled for August 31, 2026.
In a detailed letter to the committee, Jully raised serious concerns about the methodology adopted during its recent visit to Rajasthan.
He emphasised that no final decision should be taken until meaningful dialogue has been held with affected communities across all 64 Aravalli districts spread across Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, along with the Braj region in Mathura.
Jully questioned why the committee had visited so few districts in Rajasthan despite the Aravallis covering a significant part of the state.
He alleged that several key Aravalli‑rich districts were omitted from the interim report submitted to the Supreme Court in October 2025. He specifically referred to Chittorgarh, Sawai Madhopur, Bharatpur, Deeg, Bundi, Baran, Jhalawar, Kota, Karauli and Dholpur.
He said the committee should have visited every Aravalli district to assess ground realities and understand the condition of the mountain range and communities dependent on it.
Criticising what he described as inadequate engagement, Jully noted that information about the public hearing was not adequately publicised, limiting participation.
He added that representatives were allotted only two minutes to speak, reducing proceedings on an issue of immense environmental and social significance to a mere formality.
Jully also questioned why the committee had not visited a single mining‑affected village to assess firsthand the impact of mining and stone crushing on health, environment and livelihoods.
He asserted that a comprehensive assessment of the Aravallis cannot be prepared without visiting these areas and understanding the hardships residents face.
He reiterated that the concerns and voices of people living in the Aravalli region must be heard before any final decision is taken, demanding an extension of the report deadline to ensure a thorough, transparent and meaningful consultation process.
–IANS
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