Archive · 25 Jun 2025
Delhi's Central Ridge: Challenges and Potential Restoration
Imagine Delhi's Central Ridge as a park that's seen better days.
Experts talked about how it's changed over time.
They want to fix it!
The Ridge was first made to look like the countryside the British were used to.
Now, people are working on bringing back the plants and trees that belong there, like they did in another forest called Mangarbani.
They're using trees that can grow on tough land and have a plan to protect the area and make it better.
They think people and the courts need to help make sure it happens.
The Central Ridge in Delhi has faced degradation over the years, prompting restoration efforts.
The Living Landscapes series featured a talk by Pradip Kishen on the Central Ridge's degeneration and recent rehabilitation.
The Ridge was originally planned as an 'amenity forest' by British officials to resemble the countryside.
Experts suggested that judicial and citizen action, along with protection bodies, could help with a masterplan.
The discussion highlighted the impact of metro construction and the need to balance natural ecology with development.
- Who
- Pradip Kishen and other experts.
- What
- Discussion on the degeneration and restoration of Delhi's Central Ridge.
- When
- The talk was part of the Living Landscapes series in 2024.
- Where
- Delhi's Central Ridge.
- Why
- To discuss the restoration of the Ridge's native ecology.
Preservation
Development
Development vs. Ecology
Preservation
Prioritize preserving natural ecology.
Development
Develop infrastructure.
- Ridge Area
- About 850 hectares
- Forest Dept. Control
- Half of the Ridge
- Original Purpose
- To resemble the British countryside
- Alien Tree Introduced
- Neltuma Juliflora (Vilaiti keekar)
- Panel Participants
- KT Ravindran, Chetan Agarwal