Home / Environment / Delhi Ridge Forests Face Encroachment Crisis
Delhi Ridge Forests Face Encroachment Crisis
18 Mar
Summary
- Central Ridge demarcation is underway to protect it as a forest.
- Final notification for Delhi's Ridge areas, except the southern Ridge, is pending.
- Over 600 hectares of encroachment-free land identified in phase one.
Delhi's central Ridge, the city's second-largest Ridge area, is undergoing a crucial demarcation exercise. This process aims to formally designate it as a protected forest under Section 20 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927. The exercise is vital for identifying and addressing land encroachments across Delhi's Ridge zones, which collectively span approximately 7,784 hectares and are often referred to as the city's 'green lungs'.
Phase 1 of the joint demarcation, involving multiple government departments, has successfully identified over 600 hectares as encroachment-free. Phase 2 is now underway, focusing on disputed boundaries and areas under litigation. The final notification, granting complete protection and defining boundaries, is pending for most Ridge areas, with the exception of the southern Ridge, where 4,080 hectares received final notification in October of the previous year (2025).
Environmental concerns have been raised, with a resident filing a petition in 2015 to prevent further encroachment. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has previously directed the removal of encroachments and ordered the Delhi government to complete final notifications within three months. However, these directions have not been fully executed, highlighting the ongoing challenges in protecting these critical green spaces.
