New Delhi, Dec. 22 -- The Centre's new definition of the Aravalli hills will protect over 90% of the geological formation, Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav said on Sunday, rejecting claims that the move will open the fragile ecosystem to large-scale mining. A central government panel defined landforms rising at least 100 metres above the local relief as Aravalli hills, a definition the Supreme Court accepted during a November 20 hearing. "Local relief" means the elevation difference between the hill and its surrounding base area. "After this definition was adopted, more than 90% of the area came under the protected zone...The total area of the Aravalli range is 147,000 sq km. Currently, in the 39 districts I have information for, ...