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Delhi Ridge Forests Face Encroachment Crisis
11 Sep
Summary
- 400.5 hectares of Southern Ridge await final forest notification.
- Over 30 years of legal protection for Delhi's Ridge pending.
- Encroachments and unauthorized structures hinder forest status.
Delhi's Southern Ridge is moving closer to enhanced forest protection, with 400.5 hectares awaiting final notification under Section 20 of the Indian Forest Act. This process, pending approval from the LG, will bring the total protected area of the Southern Ridge to approximately 74%. However, a significant portion of the ridge, spanning 1,622.6 hectares, is affected by encroachments, including villages, unauthorized colonies, and religious structures. These areas are currently undergoing joint re-verification by the forest and revenue departments.
The push for complete legal protection for Delhi's Ridge areas began in 1994 with a Section 4 notification, but the crucial Section 20 notification has been delayed for over three decades. The forest department is processing these notifications in phases. Proposals for 448.2 hectares across several ridges are also being processed, with some parts of the Northern Ridge and Nanakpura Ridge specifically awaiting finalization from the Delhi Development Authority.
This effort is part of a broader initiative to secure 7,772.3 hectares of Delhi's total 7,784 hectares of ridges. As of now, 4,850.3 hectares across different ridges have been notified under Section 20. The National Green Tribunal is currently hearing a plea advocating for the removal of encroachments and the complete notification of Ridge areas.
