Union Minister Bhupender Yadav Defends Aravali Mining: 'Only 0.19% Used, Not a Total No-Go Zone'

In a special interview, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav addresses the controversy surrounding mining in the Aravali range. Responding to demands from environmentalists to make the region a 'total no-go zone', Yadav argues that the area has been settled for thousands of years and that only '0.19%' of the land is used for essential mining, specifically mentioning marble extraction in Raj Samand and Udaipur. He highlights the government's commitment to conservation, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' initiative in the region. Yadav also asserts that all ministry documents are available online in response to questions about third-party ecological audits.