Delhi Approves Reserved Forest Status for 1,000 Acres of Southern Ridge

Nearly 1,000 acres of Delhi's Southern Ridge are set to be granted Reserved Forest status, after the Delhi government cleared the proposal on Saturday. Once the notification process is complete, the total ridge area enjoying this protection will stand at around 13,000 acres.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said legal cover for the land is only part of the plan, and that reviving the ridge's ecosystem carries equal weight. She said degraded stretches would be taken up for restoration.

The Southern Ridge, which spans roughly 6,200 hectares, is the largest segment of Delhi's ridge system.

A process decades in the making

The groundwork for protecting large parts of the Delhi Ridge was laid in 1994, when these areas were marked for forest protection. Despite that, many parcels remained without final Reserved Forest status for decades. The exercise gathered momentum this year, with parts of the Southern Ridge securing final protection in March and the Central Ridge following in May.

The Delhi Ridge is an extension of the Aravallis and ranks among the capital's largest natural green spaces. It has repeatedly figured in court proceedings concerning tree-felling, construction and encroachment.

The government's restoration approach is expected to centre on native vegetation, the revival of degraded patches and the containment of invasive species. A Delhi Ridge Management Board was also set up this year to supervise protection and restoration efforts.

Pending hurdles

Significant work remains. Sections of the Southern Ridge are still tied up in encroachment cases, settlements, unauthorised colonies and other land-use disputes. Officials are verifying these parcels before they can be moved through the same process.

According to the government, additional eligible land will be brought under Reserved Forest protection in a phased manner.