Jaipur, October 14: A Supreme Court appointed High Powered Committee (HPC) will visit Rajasthan Vagad region from October 11 to 13 to assess the ecological condition of the Aravalli mountain range, mining activities forest cover and the livelihoods of local communities particularly tribal populations.
The committee will inspect the Paldeval Sarkan area in Dungarpur district and the Kevadiya Kothara area in Banswara district. The visit follows its ongoing tour of the Aravalli region in Gujarat from October 8 to 10.
During the Rajasthan visit, the panel will conduct field inspections and consult villagers, farmers, labourers, environmentalists, mining leaseholders, subject experts and tribal communities. It will examine mining and quarrying operations, including stone crushing activities, forest cover, water sources, land use patterns and the impact of these activities on the environment and local livelihoods.
The committee’s findings will contribute to a comprehensive report that the Supreme Court has directed it to submit by November 30, 2026.
The Supreme Court constituted the five-member committee through an order dated May 25, 2026 under the chairmanship of the Director General of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE). Its mandate is to independently examine the existing definition of the Aravalli range and the methodology used to demarcate its hills.
The exercise aims to assess the region’s ecological characteristics and address concerns surrounding the conservation of the mountain range.
The panel’s latest visit comes after concerns were raised over inadequate participation by rural residents and tribal communities during an earlier five day tour of Rajasthan. These concerns prompted calls for another ground level assessment in southern Rajasthan, with greater emphasis on hearing directly from communities affected by decisions concerning the region.
In an order dated September 7, the Supreme Court clarified that the committee must provide adequate opportunities for all relevant stakeholders including tribal communities in Rajasthan and Gujarat, to present their views.
The Rajasthan government has mobilised the Forest Department and local officials to facilitate the inspections. A senior Forest Department official will coordinate the fieldwork, while Deputy Conservators of Forests and other personnel from Dungarpur and Banswara will accompany the panel.
According to the proposed schedule the committee will inspect the Paldeval Sarkan area on October 11, followed by consultations with stakeholders. On October 12 it will visit the Kevadiya Kothara area and hold discussions with local communities. October 13 will be the final day of the scheduled Rajasthan visit.
Evening consultations are planned in both districts, with approximately three hours allocated each day for discussions with residents and other stakeholders.
The inspections are expected to provide a clearer understanding of the relationship between the Aravalli landscape forest ecosystems, wildlife, mining activities and the economic conditions of communities living in the region.
The committee will incorporate its findings and stakeholder feedback into its final assessment of the Aravalli range’s definition demarcation and conservation. The report will be submitted to the Supreme Court by November 30 for further consideration.