On 20 July 2023, the Haryana Forest Department issued a notification to cover 506 acres of Aravalis in Rajawas village under the Forest (Conservation) Act. This was done as part of the Great Nicobar Swap. As part of the Swap, the area of the Aravalli Hills, from Khasra numbers 91 to 124, was to be conserved and revived to compensate for the loss of a million trees in Great Nicobar. However, on the same day, 119.5 acres of these 506 acres were e-auctioned for mining by the state mining department for a 10-year lease.
According to a TOI report, the Mining Department did not take approval from the Rajawas panchayat before auctioning the land. The department also did not take clearance from the Forest Department, even though the forest land is covered under FCA. “We have not granted an NOC (no-objection certificate) to carry out mining in Rajawas. As the Khasra numbers mention, the area is already a protected forest,” a forest department official told TOI.
The residents of Rajawas village protested in large numbers against the auctioning of the Aravalli land for mining activities. The residents claimed that mining practices would impact the hills and affect the groundwater in the region. This, in turn, affects the farming practices in the village, which is the only source of livelihood for the villagers. The residents also said that mining activities in the region disturb the natural habitat for wild animals, who otherwise coexist peacefully with the village residents. In October, the National Green Tribunal took suo motu cognisance of this matter. Following which, it issued notices in October 2024 to various authorities, including the Union Environment Ministry and the Haryana Government. But even then, the official process to lease the land was not halted.
Residents of Rajawas village also filed an intervention application on 27 January 2025. “The Rajawas village is surrounded by Aravali Plantation Areas and lies adjacent to lands that are notified under Sections 4 and 5 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act 1900 (PLPA 1900),” the application said. The application also stated that in Rajawas village, where mining is proposed, some endangered tree species like Guggal (Commiphora Wightii), Jaal (Salvadora persica) and Salar/(Boswellia Serrata), etc exist. “Only a limited number of such tree species are present in the Mahendergarh district,” the application said.
The application also mentioned that the Aravalli land, where mining is proposed in Rajawas village, is also used by the villagers as grazing land for their cattle and for collecting fuel wood. Through the application, the residents also stated that the “region is of great ecological significance and is the habitat of several endangered and vulnerable species of wildlife and birds.”
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) then heard the case on 4 April 2025, and, directed the Haryana government to ensure that no illegal mining occurs in the protected forest until the next hearing. The tribunal also directed the respondents - inspector general of forest, ministry of environment, forest and climate change; principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF), Haryana; district magistrate, Mahendergarh; member secretary, State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Haryana; secretary, Haryana mining department; and the project proponent M/s Landsworthy Mining & Infra LLP - to file their responses within four weeks.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand to cancel the project
Opposition against environmental degradation
Complaint against procedural violations
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Common
Forest
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Project stalled due to protests
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Grazing, Religious/Sacred/Cultural value, Other environmental services
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Yes
Source/Reference
On 4 April 2025, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) instructed Haryana government to ensure that no illegal mining occurs in the protected forest area until the next hearing on 7 August 2025.
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
Type of investment:
Year of Estimation
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Violation of environmental laws
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Pending
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Yes
Name of the adjudicatory body
National Green Tribunal
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
Original Application No. 1203/2024
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Inspector General of Forests, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change; principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF), Haryana; district magistrate, DG (Mining); Mahendergarh; member secretary, State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Haryana; secretary, Haryana mining department; Union environment ministry; State Pollution Board; Haryana forest department; Central Pollution Control Board; Additional Chief Secretary (Environment, Forest, and Wildlife Department)
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
No
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
M/s Landsworthy Mining & Infra LLP
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
No
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
People for Aravallis
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
