New Delhi has finally granted the highest level of legal protection to a massive portion of the Southern Ridge, the city’s largest “green lung,” 31 years after the initial step to conserve the land was taken. The final gazette notification, issued on October 24 and published on Monday, officially declares 4,080 hectares, or nearly two-thirds of the total Southern Ridge area, as a “reserve forest” under Section 20 of the Indian Forest Act,1927.
The notification, which received approval from Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and the Lieutenant Governor, is considered the most significant legal protection afforded to the Ridge in decades. It now grants the Forest and Wildlife Department full authority to act against encroachments since the boundaries have been conclusively demarcated and all prior claims on the notified land have been settled.
The 31 Year Procedural Delay
The long delay highlights a systemic struggle against real-estate pressure and political inaction. Delhi first notified its intent to protect the Ridge under the preliminary Section 4 of the Indian Forest Act on May 24,1994. However, achieving Section 20 status the final step to declare a forest “reserved” requires a lengthy process where a Forest Settlement Officer (FSO) must survey the land, settle all claims, and certify that the area is free of encumbrances.
The document confirms that this arduous task has finally been completed for the 4,080 hectares, with the FSO certifying that no rights exist in favor of any person. The notified area spans 13 villages and includes major forested tracts in Bhatti (770.1 hectares), Dera Mandi 651.7 hectares), and Asola 542.3 hectares). These areas form the crucial forested backbone of south Delhi, connecting the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary with the broader Aravalli landscape extending into Haryana .
Landmark Protection Comes “Woefully Late”
Environmental activists greeted the news with cautious relief, calling the step “woefully late” for an already degraded landscape. They have consistently accused successive governments of delaying the protection process despite numerous directions from the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The slow pace of action is evident in the fact that of the 2,024 hectares of the Ridge yet to be notified, around 307 hectares are still under encroachment.
The 7,784 hectare Delhi Ridge, an extension of the ancient Aravalli hill range, is indispensable as the city’s “green lungs.” It acts as a natural barrier against desertification, a carbon sink, and is critical for urban temperature regulation and groundwater recharge. Despite its importance, other Ridge zones including the Central 864 hectares), South-Central 626 hectares), and Northern 87 hectares) zones remain stuck in procedural limbo due to pending boundary demarcation, reflecting the deep-seated political and administrative challenges facing conservation in the capital.