The Delhi government, led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, on 19 September 2026 approved the notification of approximately 1,000 acres (400 hectares) of additional land in the Southern Ridge as reserved forest under Section 20 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927. The move is aimed at bolstering the capital's ecological security, green cover, and air quality.

With this addition, the total notified Ridge area will expand to roughly 13,000 acres (5,250 hectares), according to an official government statement.

What the Decision Entails

The notification grants permanent statutory protection to the designated Southern Ridge land, shielding it from encroachment and unregulated development. Chief Minister Gupta noted that the final notification process for various Ridge sections had been pending for an extended period, and the current government has prioritised and accelerated that process.

'Protecting the Ridge is not limited to preserving trees and forest areas; it is directly linked to Delhi's clean air, biodiversity, temperature regulation and environmental security,' Gupta said.

Beyond legal protection, the government stated it is simultaneously pursuing scientific ecological restoration in line with the Ridge Working Plan, with special emphasis on promoting native plant species, rehabilitating degraded zones, and managing invasive species through scientific methods.

Ecological Significance of the Southern Ridge

The Delhi Ridge is an extension of the ancient Aravalli mountain range and is widely regarded as the capital's primary green lung and a functioning carbon sink. The Southern Ridge serves as a critical ecological link at the northern end of the Aravallis.

Environmentalists and urban ecologists have long stressed that the Ridge performs multiple climate-regulation functions — controlling particulate dust, moderating local temperatures, and supporting biodiversity corridors in an otherwise heavily urbanised landscape. Notably, Delhi's air quality consistently ranks among the worst of any major global city, making forest cover protection a matter of direct public health consequence.

Institutional Framework

To ensure ongoing stewardship, the government constituted the Delhi Ridge Management Board in 2026, with a mandate covering protection, scientific ecological restoration, afforestation, and habitat conservation. The board is expected to function as the primary institutional body overseeing Ridge governance going forward.

What Comes Next

The government has indicated that the current notification is not a one-time exercise. The statutory process of bringing additional eligible Ridge areas under reserved forest status is underway, and further sections are to be notified in a phased manner. Chief Minister Gupta stated that the administration's objective is to ensure the Ridge 'remains protected for future generations.'

The move represents one of the more consequential urban forest policy decisions in Delhi in recent years, and how effectively the Ridge Management Board operationalises the restoration mandate will determine its long-term environmental impact.