Nearly 1,000 acres of Delhi’s Southern Ridge are set to receive Reserved Forest status after the Delhi government approved the move, taking the total area of the Delhi Ridge with such protection to around 13,000 acres once the notification process is completed.
The decision is part of a wider effort to strengthen legal protection and restore degraded sections of the Ridge, one of Delhi’s most important natural green areas. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said legal protection alone would not be sufficient and that the government would also focus on reviving the ecosystem.
The Southern Ridge covers around 6,200 hectares and forms the largest section of Delhi’s Ridge system. The Ridge itself is an extension of the Aravalli range and plays an important role in the capital’s natural environment.
The process of granting forest protection to parts of the Ridge has been pending for decades. Large sections were identified for forest protection in 1994, but several areas continued to await final Reserved Forest status.
The process gained momentum this year, with parts of the Southern Ridge receiving final protection in March and the Central Ridge following in May. The latest approval is expected to bring nearly another 1,000 acres under the formal protection framework after the required notification process.
The Ridge has repeatedly been involved in legal disputes concerning tree felling, construction and encroachments. The government’s proposed restoration measures include planting native species, restoring degraded patches and controlling invasive plants.
A Delhi Ridge Management Board was also constituted this year to oversee conservation, protection and restoration work.
However, officials still face challenges in several parts of the Southern Ridge. Some parcels remain linked to encroachment cases, settlements, unauthorised colonies and other land-use disputes. Authorities are currently verifying these areas before determining whether they can be brought under the same forest-protection process.
The government has indicated that additional eligible land will be brought under Reserved Forest protection in phases, as the verification and notification processes are completed.