Delhi Govt declares 41 sq km of Southern Ridge as reserved forest

In a significant step towards environmental protection and pollution control in the national capital, the Delhi government has decided to declare approximately 41 square kilometres of the Southern Ridge area as a reserved forest.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the decision marks a major milestone in protecting Delhi from pollution and promoting sustainable environmental growth.

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She added that the government will plant indigenous tree species on open lands within these forest zones to maintain soil fertility and further enhance the city’s ecological balance.

“Our priority is to make Delhi a modern capital that is pollution-free, green, and environmentally balanced,” the Chief Minister stated.

Delhi’s Environment Minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, said the decision would play an effective role in controlling pollution levels in the city. He also criticised the alleged negligence of previous administrations in protecting the Ridge areas.

CM Gupta alleged that for nearly two decades, the Ridge regions of Delhi had been neglected, with successive governments failing to take any concrete initiatives to safeguard these ecologically sensitive zones. As a result, several parts of the Ridge faced encroachments and a gradual decline in greenery, she noted.

The Chief Minister said that continuous coordination and meetings among various departments had paved the way for this important decision.

According to the government, under the provisions of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, around 41 square kilometres of the Southern Ridge area have now been notified as a reserved forest.

Gupta further mentioned that this declaration marks the first phase of a larger initiative, under which other Ridge areas in Delhi will also soon be notified as reserved forests. The process for these subsequent declarations is already underway.

The tree species to be planted in the newly declared forest zones include neem (Indian Lilac), peepal (Sacred Fig), shisham (Indian Rosewood), mango, tamarind, and jamun (Black Plum), among others.

Sirsa described the move as a “milestone for Delhi,” adding that pollution control and environmental conservation remain the government’s top priorities.