ORDER

1. The applicant, a non-partisan group of citizens from National Capital Region and across India has filed the present application under Sections 14 and 15 of National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 (hereinafter referred to as ‘NGT Act, 2010’) for issuing directions to respondents 2 to 6 to take steps to stop illegal stone and sand mining, undertake restoration activities, take strict action against defaulting officials and constitute an independent Aravalli Protection Authority for protection of the entire Aravalli range from further degradation.

2. The applicant has submitted that Aravallis serve as a natural barrier between Thar Desert and Northern part of the country and thereby reducing chances of desertification. The green forest cover helps in regulating temperature and maintaining rainfall pattern in and around the Aravallis. Destruction of Aravallis will lead to decreased forest cover, increase in pollution level, temperature and climate events in North India including National Capital Region of Delhi. With the environmental degradation of Aravallis, the water security of Northern India will be threatened and there will be an increase in human-animal conflict. Supreme Court