BJP slams Gehlot's 'Save Aravalli' campaign, assures mining will not expand under new definition
Jaipur (PTI): Senior BJP leader Rajendra Rathore on Sunday rejected former chief minister Ashok Gehlot's claim that the Union government's report redefining the Arvallis would destroy 90 per cent of the mountain range in the state, and claimed it lays down a stricter framework for its conservation.
The Supreme Court, on November 20, 2025, accepted the recommendations of a committee under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change on the definition of Aravalli Hills and Ranges.
According to the new definition, "Aravalli Hill is any landform in designated Aravalli districts with an elevation of 100 metres or more above its local relief" and an "Aravalli Range is a collection of two or more such hills within 500 metres of each other".
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However, Rathore noted that the 100-metre criterion is not limited to height alone.
"According to the court-approved definition, all hills of 100 metres or more, their slopes, and terrain within 500 metres between two hills remain outside the mining ambit irrespective of height. This framework is stricter and more scientific than before," he said at a press conference.
Calling Gehlot's claim "completely false and misleading", the former leader of opposition noted that approximately 25 per cent of the Aravalli area falls under wildlife sanctuaries, national parks and reserved forests where mining is completely prohibited.
"Only about 2.56 per cent of the notified Aravalli region is under limited and strictly regulated mining," he said.
Citing the Survey of India analysis, Rathore assured that mining will not expand under the new definition.
He claimed that 98.9 per cent of hilly areas in Rajsamand, 99.89 per cent in Udaipur, 89.4 per cent in Gujarat's Sabarkantha and 75.07 per cent in Haryana's Mahendragarh would remain prohibited for mining, apart from national parks, eco-sensitive zones, reserved and protected forests and wetlands.
Rathore said that Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has also clarified that the Supreme Court order poses no threat to the Aravalli range and the Centre is committed to ensuring its complete protection.
He emphasised that the Supreme Court has clearly directed that no new mining leases can be issued till the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education completes detailed scientific mapping and prepares a sustainable mining management plan.
"In such a situation, speaking of Aravalli's destruction is nothing but an attempt to create fear," he said.
Additionally, Rathore targeted Gehlot's "Save Aravalli" social media campaign launched on December 18, saying that senior Congress leaders, including Govind Singh Dotasra, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Sachin Pilot, did not support it by changing their profile pictures.
"When top party leaders themselves are not standing with this campaign, it is clear this is political posturing, not an environmental movement," he alleged.
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AI-based monitoring strengthens PPP dialysis programme in Karnataka: Health Minister
Bengaluru (PTI): The introduction of an AI-enabled monitoring system will significantly enhance patient safety and treatment quality under Karnataka's public-private partnership dialysis programme, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said on Thursday.
Launching the AI-based smart monitoring system at KC General Hospital in Bengaluru, the minister said such technological innovations bring dialysis services delivered under the PPP model on par with private healthcare standards.
"The introduction of an AI-enabled monitoring system will significantly strengthen patient safety and treatment quality under Karnataka's PPP dialysis programme," he said.
The system, introduced by dialysis care provider NephroPlus, enables real-time monitoring of critical treatment parameters such as blood pressure, fluid removal and electrolyte balance during dialysis, aiming to improve patient outcomes through continuous oversight, a statement said.
Currently deployed across seven dialysis centres, the platform tracks 28 key parameters, including patient care, safety, bed availability, staff alertness, emergency preparedness, infection control, hygiene and operational efficiency, NephroPlus said in a statement.
It allows administrators and clinical teams to take data-driven decisions through continuous performance monitoring, it added.
Officials said the technology replaces periodic audits with always-on monitoring, offering a more transparent and robust governance framework.
NephroPlus CEO Rohit Singh said continuous monitoring is critical in dialysis care and the AI-based system ensures consistent quality standards across centres while enabling safer and more reliable treatment for patients.
The launch event also featured a live demonstration of AI-powered dashboards, showcasing real-time tracking of dialysis procedures.
