Jaipur, June 5 -- Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday welcomed the Supreme Court's decision to constitute a five-member high-powered committee to develop a uniform definition of the ecologically fragile Aravalli range and prepare a conservation roadmap. In a post on X, Gehlot said the committee's formation was a positive step towards addressing the crucial issue of defining and protecting the Aravallis. He expressed hope that the panel would formulate a scientific definition that ensures the long-term preservation of the mountain range's ecosystem. "At a time when Rajasthan and the country are grappling with severe heatwaves and increasingly challenging weather conditions, protecting the Aravallis is essential for securing the future of coming generations," Gehlot said. He added that environmental benchmarks used one or two decades ago may no longer be suitable in the face of the growing climate crisis and urged the committee to take current environmental realities into account while making its recommendations. The Congress leader also said that policies of the Centre had placed the existence of the Aravalli range under significant threat, leading to the strengthening of the "Save Aravalli" campaign. He expressed confidence that the committee's efforts would help protect the region's hills and preserve the Aravallis as a vital natural shield for northwestern India. The remarks come a day after the Supreme Court constituted a five-member committee to arrive at a uniform definition of the Aravalli range, regulate future mining activities and submit a report on conservation measures by August 31. Meanwhile, a professor of Environmental Science at the Central University of Rajasthan, Laxmi Kant Sharma, has been appointed as a special invitee expert by the Supreme Court. He will assist the panel with scientific inputs as and when required by its chairperson....