Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has stepped up his campaign to protect the Aravalli hills by changing his social media display picture. The move has triggered wide discussion and brought renewed focus to the Save Aravalli campaign.
Gehlot said the change is not symbolic alone. He described it as a strong protest against a proposed new definition of the Aravalli range. Under the revised definition, hills below 100 metres in height may no longer qualify as Aravalli. Gehlot warned that this shift could endanger North India’s environmental future.
He stressed that the Aravalli hills act as a natural barrier against desert expansion and extreme heatwaves. Weakening this range could worsen heat conditions and accelerate desertification. Millions of people could feel the impact.
Gehlot also highlighted the role of the Aravalli forests in controlling air pollution. He said the hills function like lungs for cities such as Delhi-NCR by blocking dust storms and improving air quality. Without them, pollution levels could rise sharply.
Raising concerns over water security, he noted that the Aravalli system supports groundwater recharge. Its degradation could lead to severe drinking water shortages and ecological imbalance. Gehlot urged the central government and the Supreme Court to reconsider the new definition. He appealed to citizens to support the campaign and protect the Aravalli for future generations.
