Jaipur, Dec. 17 -- Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot has criticised the Centre for submitting a report in the Supreme Court that, he alleged, significantly narrows the legal definition of the Aravalli range, warning that the move could strip nearly 90% of the hills in the state of environmental protection and open them up to unregulated mining. Gehlot said the Aravalli is not merely a mountain range limited to Rajasthan but a natural "protective shield" for north-west India. He alleged that, based on the Centre's recommendation, restricting the definition of Aravalli to a height-based criterion of 100 metres is equivalent to signing the "death certificate" of nearly 90% of the Aravalli hills in the state. "The most alarming fact is that nearly 90% of the Aravalli hills in the desert state are less than 100 metres high. If these are excluded from the definition, it is not just a change in terminology but the removal of legal protection," Gehlot said. He warned that such exclusion would mean the Forest Conservation Act would no longer apply to vast stretches of the Aravalli, opening them up to unregulated mining activities. Rejecting height as a valid parameter, the former CM said a mountain is defined by its geological structure, not by elevation alone. "Even a small ridge is part of the same tectonic plate and mountain system as a high peak. Separating them is scientifically illogical," he argued. Gehlot emphasised the critical ecological role played by the Aravalli range, describing it as a natural barrier preventing the Thar Desert from advancing eastwards. Citing expert assessments, he said even small ridges of 10 to 30 metres in height are highly effective in blocking dust storms. "Allowing mining in these areas would amount to inviting the desert to spread towards Delhi and eastern Rajasthan," he warned. He also underlined the Aravalli's importance in water conservation, stating that its rocky formations help arrest rainwater and channel it underground, facilitating groundwater recharge across the region. "Destroying these hills would worsen drought conditions in north-west India, which is already facing acute water scarcity," Gehlot said. The former CM said the Aravalli also acts as a shield against extreme heat waves, preventing the lethal "loo" winds and desert conditions from pushing into the fertile plains of eastern Rajasthan, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Terming the move as anti-environment, Gehlot alleged that the decision effectively lays out a "red carpet for mining mafias". "By inviting the Thar Desert to march towards Delhi, the government is committing an injustice to future generations that history will not forgive," he said. Gehlot said that the Supreme Court proceedings had originally begun with the objective of clearly identifying and protecting the Aravalli range. "However, the recommendation accepted by the court has technically erased nearly 90% of the Aravalli itself," he claimed. Appealing to the apex court, the former chief minister urged a reconsideration of the decision in the interest of future generations. "This is a decision that directly invites ecological destruction. It must be reviewed with the seriousness it deserves," he said. HT tried to reach out to the BJP for a reaction, but they refused to comment on the matter....