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Landmark Notification Safeguards Delhi's Southern Ridge
19 Nov
Summary
- Southern Ridge gets final legal protection, with boundaries demarcated.
- Process for two-thirds of the Southern Ridge's land is now complete.
- Environmentalists call the decades-long delay 'woefully late'.
In a significant move for environmental conservation, Delhi's Southern Ridge has finally been granted comprehensive legal protection. A recent gazette notification, following approvals from the chief minister and lieutenant governor, conclusively demarcates its boundaries and empowers the forest department to combat encroachments. This development completes the final notification process for roughly two-thirds of the Southern Ridge's approximately 6,200 hectares.
The new designation addresses years of legal battles and pressure from development and real-estate interests. Environmental activists, however, express deep concern over the protracted delay, stating that the protection comes "woefully late" for an area that has suffered considerable degradation. The slow pace has allowed encroachments to persist for decades, shrinking the Ridge's vital green cover.
While this notification is a landmark achievement, other parts of Delhi's Ridge remain mired in procedural delays. The forest department recently informed the National Green Tribunal about pending boundary demarcations for central, northern, and south-central Ridge zones. This ongoing issue highlights persistent challenges in fully securing the city's crucial green spaces, despite repeated judicial directives.
