New Delhi, Aug. 6 -- A citizens' collective on Wednesday wrote to the Supreme Court-appointed High-Powered Committee (HPC) on the Aravallis, calling its public consultation process "highly inadequate" because of poor awareness in rural and affected areas and the short timeframe provided for stakeholders to submit feedback. The HPC, tasked with resolving ambiguities regarding the definition, delineation and conservation of the Aravallis, had on July 21, through a public notice issued by the environment ministry, invited suggestions, representations and inputs from states, NGOs, environmentalists, farmers, mining lease holders and villagers within 21 days. The committee is scheduled to submit its report on the Aravalli hills and ranges, including their definition, by August 31. In a letter seen by HT, the collective, People for Aravallis, said, "The press note published by the HPC does not capture the essence of public consultation, as envisaged by the Supreme Court and has failed in reaching the rural communities and affected people on the ground in the Aravalli areas in all the 64 districts across the five states of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat." The collective said even sarpanches and grassroots leaders from different Aravalli districts were unaware of the public notice. "It is our submission that without effective consultation and getting feedback of the rural communities dependent on the Aravallis for their sustenance and who are most affected by any decision with respect to the range, it would not be prudent on the part of the HPC to formulate its report," the letter added. The group also questioned the HPC's field visits, stating, "The field visit plan of the HPC just covers 10 districts in three states (Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan) and does not cover the length and breadth of the Aravallis in 64 districts across the five states." It added that five planned days were insufficient to study the region and engage affected communities. The collective also objected to the 21-day consultation period. Last November, the Supreme Court adopted the Environment Ministry's recommendation defining an Aravalli hill as a landform rising at least 100 metres above the surrounding terrain and grouping hills within 500 metres as a range. Experts said the definition would exclude 90% of the Aravallis and leave them vulnerable to mining and construction. The court stayed its judgment a month later pending final resolution. HT reported on June 20 that activists and environmentalists had urged the Chief Justice of India to appoint an "independent" high-level committee, alleging the current committee, appointed on May 25, is weaker than its predecessor because several members directly or indirectly report to the Union Environment Ministry, making it partial....