Jaipur, Dec. 27 -- The Congress on Friday stepped up its "Save Aravalli" campaign, with senior leader Sachin Pilot warning against what he described as attempts by the Centre and the state government to dilute protections for the Aravalli mountain range, even as the party announced a major public awareness march in Alwar on Saturday. Addressing the "Save Aravalli Padyatra" organised by the state NSUI in Jaipur, Congress national general secretary and MLA from Tonk, Pilot said the Aravalli range, spread across Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana and Delhi, is not merely a collection of hills but a vital ecological shield for much of northern India. He said the mountain system plays a crucial role in maintaining environmental balance and acts as a protective barrier for millions of people. Pilot questioned the government over what he termed efforts to push the thousands-of-years-old mountain range towards destruction, despite its importance for present and future generations. Referring to data from the Forest Survey of India (FSI), he said that around 1.18 lakh hill formations in the Aravalli region are below 100 metres in height, while only 1,048 hills are above 100 metres. He warned that the Centre's move to redefine hills in the Supreme Court as landforms above 100 metres would leave nearly 90 to 95% of the Aravalli hills outside the ambit of legal protection. Accusing the authorities of trying to mislead people through selective use of data, he said large-scale illegal mining is still going on in the Aravalli region and the government has been unable to stop it. Pilot also demanded proper rehabilitation for people affected by mining activities, underlining the need to strike a balance between development and environmental protection. Meanwhile, Congress announced that it will organise a large-scale rally in Alwar on Saturday as part of its broader campaign to protect the Aravallis....