India, Aug. 6 -- A citizens' collective on Wednesday wrote to the Supreme Court-appointed High-Powered Committee (HPC) on the Aravallis, calling the committee's public consultation process highly "inadequate" due to a lack of awareness in rural and affected areas and a short timeframe for submitting the report.

The HPC, tasked to resolve critical ambiguities regarding the definition, delineation, and conservation of Aravalli, on July 21, through a public notice issued by the environment ministry, had sought suggestions, representations and inputs from stakeholders, including states, NGOs, environmentists, farmers, mining lease holders and villagers - within 21 days.

The committee will be submitting a detailed report on the Aravalli hill...