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Green Lungs of Delhi Get Legal Teeth to Fight Encroachment
11 Dec
Summary
- Delhi Ridge Management Board reconstituted with statutory powers.
- Supreme Court directed new board to monitor and act against violations.
- Board will oversee afforestation and removal of encroachments.
The Union environment ministry has reconstituted the Delhi Ridge Management Board (DRMB) with statutory powers, as mandated by the Supreme Court. This empowers a single entity to issue permissions, monitor, and act against violations threatening Delhi's green lung. The reconstituted board replaces the previous iteration, which lacked statutory authority, and operates under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
The Supreme Court's directive on November 11 emphasized the need for statutory backing to address overlapping jurisdictions and enforce protection measures. The new DRMB will focus on removing encroachments and overseeing afforestation efforts for the 7,777-hectare ridge, divided into four zones. Experts, however, express caution about the board's effectiveness in immediate remediation.
With 13 members including the Delhi Chief Secretary, the board's structure includes representatives from MoEFCC, the ministry of housing, and the Central Empowered Committee. The DRMB's designated member from the CEC will report quarterly to the Supreme Court, ensuring oversight of its functioning and its standing committee.
