Government nod for reserved forest status for 112 ha of Ridge, 2,073 ha still unprotected

The Delhi government has officially designated 112.3 hectares of Northern Ridge as a reserved forest, following a Phase-I notification under Section 20 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927. However, the move leaves 8.61 hectares of demarcated land without reserved forest status. Despite previous announcements, over 2,073 hectares of encroached forest land in the capital will remain unprotected.

The government has also approved notifications for 673.32 hectares at Central Ridge and 400.541 hectares across 15 villages in Southern Ridge, but 2,073.226 hectares of demarcated land still remains outside the proposed notification. Legal disputes and encroachments, including village abadis, unauthorized colonies, jhuggi jhopri clusters, and religious structures, have delayed the final notifications.

The Delhi Ridge Management Board has been directed to expedite the clearance of encroachments on the Ridge.