The Delhi government approved Reserved Forest status for 1,000 acres of the Southern Ridge on Saturday, a move that will raise the ridge’s protected area to about 13,000 acres once the notification is published.
The Southern Ridge stretches roughly 6,200 hectares, making it Delhi’s largest green corridor. The decision follows earlier notifications in March and May that secured Reserved Forest status for other ridge sections, a process that began in 1994 but stalled for decades.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the government’s aim is not just legal protection but ecological revival. She added, 'Providing legal protection to the land is not the government’s only objective; reviving the ridge’s ecosystem is equally important.' The plan will focus on planting native species, restoring degraded patches, and curbing invasive weeds.
A Delhi Ridge Management Board, formed this year, will oversee the protection and restoration work. Officials are still verifying parcels that are entangled in encroachment cases and unregistered settlements before they can be notified.
Local farmer Arjun Singh, who has tended a 2‑acre plot near the ridge for 30 years, said the new status will shield his land from future illegal clear‑cutting. The notification is slated for release by mid‑July, after which the government will kick off restoration activities.