Conservationists challenge Aravalli panel over public consultation process

Conservation groups have written to a Supreme Court committee handling Aravalli-related matters, expressing concern that the current public consultation process is inadequate and urging significant procedural changes before the panel's August 31 deadline.

The environmentalists have requested that the committee seek an extension of its timeline, arguing that meaningful engagement cannot be completed within the existing constraints. They have also called for a widened consultation process that goes beyond current parameters to ensure comprehensive stakeholder input on decisions affecting the ecologically significant Aravalli range.

According to the conservationists, the panel should involve independent experts in its deliberations and ensure that voices from rural and adivasi communities—those most directly affected by Aravalli-related policies—are adequately heard. They have also recommended that knowledgeable local citizens be included in field visits and ground assessments undertaken by the committee.

The concerns raised by the environmental groups highlight broader debates about decision-making transparency and community participation in matters affecting natural resources and biodiversity in India. The committee's response to these demands could set precedent for how such high-level environmental panels conduct their consultations with affected populations.