The Delhi government on Tuesday announced that 41 square km of the Southern Ridge area will be declared a reserved forest, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said.
The decision, made under the provisions of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, is aimed at protecting the national capital from pollution and promoting sustainable environmental practices, she added.
“Our priority is to make Delhi a modern capital with a pollution-free, green, and balanced environment. This step will not only preserve Delhi’s greenery but also ensure clean air and a healthy environment for future generations,” Gupta said.
Declaring an area as a reserved forest imposes strict rules prohibiting most activities unless specifically permitted. The move also empowers a Forest Settlement Officer (FSO) to define the boundaries of the forest.
Criticising previous governments for neglecting the Ridge areas, Gupta said, “The previous governments neither took any initiative nor any steps to protect these zones. As a result, several parts of the Ridge suffered encroachments, and the greenery began to decline.”
The CM said the Southern Ridge declaration marks the first phase of a larger initiative, adding that other Ridge areas in Delhi will soon be brought under reserved forest status.
Further, Gupta said that open lands within these areas will be planted with indigenous and fruit-bearing trees, including neem, peepal, shisham, mango, tamarind, and jamun. The move aims to preserve soil fertility, strengthen biodiversity, and maintain ecological balance.
Gupta emphasised that her government is committed to protecting and improving the city’s greenery, restoring areas lost due to years of neglect and encroachment.
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa described the decision as a milestone for Delhi and said the move would play a key role in controlling pollution in the capital.He also directed the Forest Department to empanel agencies with technical expertise and advanced machinery for tree transplantation to improve survival rates.
“Until now, many agencies used backhoe loaders that damaged tree roots and reduced survival rates. Going forward, only agencies with verified competence and professional tree-transplanter machines capable of lifting full-grown trees with intact root balls will be empanelled. The aim is simple — to give every transplanted tree a genuine chance to survive,” he said.
— IANS