New Delhi: The Supreme Court, after suspending all mining operations in the ecologically sensitive Aravali Hills, on Friday began hearing on the issue relating to permissibility of mining for minor minerals and the fate of the colonies constructed in the environmentally threatened area in Faridabad district. A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices S H Kapadia and Aftab Alam was told by amicus curiae Ranjit Kumar that the court in its recent judgment banned all mining activity being appaled by the degradation caused by the mine lease owners who carried out no reclamation of the mining pits. Kumar said the process of mining for both major and minor minerals was the same and if the apex court was so convinced by the danger to ecology because of mining of major minerals, it would be futile to grant permission for mining of minor minerals. The arguments remained inconclusive and would be taken up again on October 8. After dealing with a part of the central empowered committee (CEC) report, the apex court would now consider arguments of all parties on the issue relating to the recommendations of the high-powered-court-appointed panel on Aravali Hills. CEC had recommended demolition of encroached constructions in Kant Enclave, Lake Wood View and many owned by Karmyogi Shelter Pvt Ltd. The CEC had said that regularising these buildings would fatally damage the eco-fragile Aravali Hills area in Faridabad district.