After a delay of more than 30 years, the Delhi government has successfully completed the reserved forest notification for 4,080 hectares of the Southern Ridge. This marks the largest forest area in Delhi to receive a final notification in a single instance, fulfilling a critical legal requirement that had been pending since 1994.

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Significance Of The Notification

Legal Protection: The final notification was issued under Section 20 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927. Published on October 24, and made public on Monday, it provides full legal protection to two-thirds of the Southern Ridge.

Action Against Encroachment: With this status, authorities can now take immediate action against encroachment and illegal land use. The Forest Settlement Officer has certified the land as "encumbrance-free," confirming there are no pending claims or disputes over the area.

Official Statement: An official noted, "This is a major step towards fulfilling a three-decade-old legal requirement and complying with repeated directives from the National Green Tribunal (NGT)."

Timeline And Delays

1994 (May): The original Section 4 notification was issued, intending to cover an area of 6,200 hectares.

2021: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed that all Ridge areas be given final notification within three months. This deadline was initially missed.

2022: Only 96.16 hectares of the Southern Ridge were formally notified as a reserved forest.

2024: The government has now notified the 4,080-hectare portion, marking the first significant progress in Ridge conservation in decades.

Geographic Breakdown

The newly notified area spans 13 villages. The largest portions include:

Bhatti: 770 hectares

Dera Mandi: 651.7 hectares

Asola: 542.3 hectares

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Broader Context: Delhi’s Ridge System

Delhi's four main Ridge areas collectively span 7,784 hectares and serve as the capital's primary natural barrier against dust storms and heat.

However, aside from the Southern Ridge, no other section has completed the necessary legal process to gain reserved forest status under the Indian Forest Act. This is largely due to ongoing delays in joint demarcation surveys by the forest and revenue departments.