Archive · 20 Sep 2026
Delhi Approves Reserved Forest Status for 1,000 Acres of Ridge
Delhi wants to give about 1,000 acres of the Southern Ridge stronger forest protection.
The area will receive reserved forest status through a legal notification process.
This could bring about 13,000 acres of the Delhi Ridge under this protection.
The Ridge is an important green area connected to the Aravalli mountain range.
Officials say it helps support biodiversity, cleaner air and cooler local temperatures.
The government also plans to repair damaged parts of the Ridge.
It will plant native species and control invasive plants.
Some parts still have encroachments, settlements and other land-use disputes.
More eligible areas may be protected in future phases.
The Delhi government approved reserved forest status for around 1,000 acres of the Southern Ridge.
The notified Ridge area is expected to reach about 13,000 acres after the process is completed.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta linked Ridge protection to clean air, biodiversity and climate resilience.
Restoration plans include promoting native species, repairing degraded areas and managing invasive plants.
Encroachments, settlements, unauthorised colonies and land-use disputes remain unresolved in some parcels.
- Who
- The Delhi government, led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, approved the move.
- What
- Around 1,000 acres of the Southern Ridge are being brought under reserved forest protection.
- When
- The approval was announced on Saturday; the articles do not provide a calendar date, and the notification process is described as being completed or underway.
- Where
- The Southern Ridge in Delhi, part of the Delhi Ridge system.
- Why
- To provide permanent legal protection and support ecological restoration, biodiversity, air quality and environmental security.
- Land involved
- Around 1,000 acres, or about 400 hectares, in the Southern Ridge
- Projected protected Ridge area
- Around 13,000 acres, or 5,250 hectares
- Southern Ridge size
- Around 6,200 hectares
- Legal basis
- Section 20 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927
- Restoration measures
- Native-species promotion, degraded-area restoration and invasive-species management
- Oversight body
- Delhi Ridge Management Board, constituted in 2026 according to one article
- Outstanding issues
- Encroachment cases, settlements, unauthorised colonies and other land-use matters
- Earlier process
- Large parts of the Ridge were marked for forest protection in 1994; parts of the Southern Ridge and Central Ridge received final protection in March and May, respectively
