Delhi govt approves reserved forest status for 277 acres of Northern Ridge

Delhi government approves reserved forest status for 277.56 acres of Northern Ridge under the Indian Forest Act, strengthening legal protection for the capital’s green zone.

The Delhi government has approved the Phase-I notification to declare 277.56 acres of the Northern Ridge a reserved forest under Section 20 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, strengthening legal protection for one of the capital’s key green and ecological zones.

Delhi’s Northern Ridge will get reserved forest status for 277.56 acres under Section 20 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, the government said.

The notification covers 112.328 hectares of land in the Northern Ridge, part of the Aravalli mountain range and an important green and ecological zone for Delhi, the chief minister’s office said on Friday.

Chief minister Rekha Gupta said protecting the Northern Ridge was crucial for Delhi’s environmental health and future generations. The move reflected the government’s commitment to protecting the capital’s green areas and making it more resilient to environmental challenges, she added.

The government said 5,267.009 hectares (13,014.77 acres) of land had been notified as reserved forest during its tenure so far, compared with 96.16 hectares (237.611 acres) under previous governments. With the Northern Ridge notification, the total area notified as reserved forest will rise to 5,363.169 hectares (13,252.390 acres), according to the statement.

Last month, the Delhi government also approved the notification of around 1,000 acres (400 hectares) of additional land in the Southern Ridge as reserved forest.

Gupta said environmental conservation and efforts to tackle pollution went hand in hand, adding that protecting natural areas, expanding green cover and maintaining ecological balance were important for addressing air pollution and climate-related challenges.

The chief minister said more than 73 lakh saplings had been planted in Delhi this year and the plantation drive was still underway. The government has also encouraged citizens to plant trees through the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign and the ‘Vriksh Rath’ initiative.

Work is also being undertaken to construct check dams and promote natural regeneration in Ridge areas to improve groundwater recharge. School and college students have been engaged as ‘Eco-Warriors’ to raise awareness about climate and biodiversity, the statement said.

The next phase of Northern Ridge protection will include measures related to demarcation, habitat management and community participation, according to the chief minister’s office.