BJP slams Gehlot’s ‘Save Aravalli’ campaign, assures mining will not expand under new definition

Senior BJP person Rajendra Rathore connected Sunday (December 21, 2025) rejected erstwhile main curate Ashok Gehlot’s assertion that the Union Government’s study redefining the Arvallis would destruct 90% of the upland scope successful the state, and claimed it lays down a stricter model for its conservation.

The Supreme Court, connected November 20, 2025, accepted the recommendations of a committee nether the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change connected the explanation of Aravalli Hills and Ranges.

According to the caller definition, “Aravalli Hill is immoderate landform successful designated Aravalli districts with an elevation of 100 metres oregon much supra its section relief” and an “Aravalli Range is simply a postulation of 2 oregon much specified hills wrong 500 metres of each other”.

However, Mr. Rathore noted that the 100-metre criterion is not constricted to tallness alone.

“According to the court-approved definition, each hills of 100 metres oregon more, their slopes, and terrain wrong 500 metres betwixt 2 hills stay extracurricular the mining ambit irrespective of height. This model is stricter and much technological than before,” helium said astatine a property conference.

Also Read | Citizens’ study highlights amerciable discarded dumping and burning successful Aravalis

Calling Mr. Gehlot’s assertion “completely mendacious and misleading”, the erstwhile person of absorption noted that astir 25% of the Aravalli country falls nether wildlife sanctuaries, nationalist parks and reserved forests wherever mining is wholly prohibited.

“Only astir 2.56% of the notified Aravalli portion is nether constricted and strictly regulated mining,” helium said. Citing the Survey of India analysis, Mr. Rathore assured that mining volition not grow nether the caller definition.

He claimed that 98.9% of hilly areas successful Rajsamand, 99.89% successful Udaipur, 89.4% successful Gujarat’s Sabarkantha and 75.07% successful Haryana’s Mahendragarh would stay prohibited for mining, isolated from nationalist parks, eco-sensitive zones, reserved and protected forests and wetlands.

Mr. Rathore said that Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has besides clarified that the Supreme Court bid poses nary menace to the Aravalli scope and the Centre is committed to ensuring its implicit protection.

He emphasised that the Supreme Court has intelligibly directed that nary caller mining leases tin beryllium issued till the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education completes elaborate technological mapping and prepares a sustainable mining absorption plan.

“In specified a situation, speaking of Aravalli's demolition is thing but an effort to make fear,” helium said.

Additionally, Mr. Rathore targeted Mr. Gehlot’s “Save Aravalli” societal media run launched connected December 18, saying that elder Congress leaders, including Govind Singh Dotasra, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Sachin Pilot, did not enactment it by changing their illustration pictures.

“When apical enactment leaders themselves are not lasting with this campaign, it is wide this is governmental posturing, not an biology movement,” helium alleged.