The Delhi government has approved a Phase-I notification to declare 112.328 hectares, or 277.56 acres, of land in the Northern Ridge as reserved forest under Section 20 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927. The decision gives formal legal protection to a significant part of Delhi’s natural landscape and begins the next stage of demarcation and habitat management.
The Northern Ridge forms part of the Aravalli mountain range and is recognised by the government as an important green and ecological zone within the capital. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta described it as an “invaluable natural heritage” whose protection is important for Delhi’s environmental health and for future generations.
The approved notification covers the Phase-I process for the 112.328-hectare area. The government said the reserved-forest status would strengthen the long-term legal basis for protecting the Northern Ridge, which it describes as one of Delhi’s green lungs and ecological centres. The announcement does not provide details of the precise boundary coordinates, the management authority or the restrictions that will apply to specific activities within the notified area.
The decision is part of a wider expansion of legally protected forest land claimed by the Delhi government. According to figures released by the chief minister, only 96.16 hectares, equivalent to 237.611 acres, had been notified as reserved forest during previous governments. The current government has so far notified 5,267.009 hectares, or 13,014.77 acres, according to the statement.
With the Northern Ridge land included, the total area is expected to reach 5,363.169 hectares, or approximately 13,252.390 acres. The government also said it approved the notification of nearly 1,000 acres, or 400 hectares, of additional land in the Southern Ridge last month. These figures indicate an expanding effort to place Delhi’s ridge areas under formal forest protection, although the implementation of each notification will depend on boundary demarcation, administration and enforcement.
The government linked the move to its broader response to air pollution and climate-related pressures. Gupta said environmental action cannot be limited to reducing the immediate effects of pollution and must also include strengthening the city’s natural ecosystems. The statement identified the conservation of ridge areas, expansion of green cover and maintenance of ecological balance as part of that approach.
The government also said more than 7.3 million saplings had been planted in Delhi during the current year, with plantation activity continuing. It referred to the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” citizen campaign and the “Vriksh Rath” initiative, which encourage residents to plant trees near their homes and in surrounding areas. These plantation claims were presented alongside the reserved-forest decision, but the announcement did not provide survival rates, species details or a separate assessment of the ecological performance of the planting programme.
For the ridge itself, the government said work was being undertaken on check dams and natural regeneration to improve groundwater recharge. Students from schools and colleges are also being engaged as “Eco-Warriors” to raise awareness about climate and biodiversity. The statement did not specify the number of check dams, the area covered by regeneration work or the funding allocated for these activities.
The next steps announced by the government include demarcation of the Northern Ridge area, habitat-management measures and greater community participation. These steps will determine how the approved legal protection is translated into on-ground management and how the area’s ecological role is maintained within Delhi’s expanding urban environment.
