Delhi CM Rekha Gupta grants Reserved Forest status to 673 hectares of Central Ridge
Synopsis
Delhi's Central Ridge — the green lung at the heart of the capital — has finally received full legal protection after more than three decades of pending status. CM Rekha Gupta's BJP government notified 673.32 hectares as Reserved Forest, taking the total protected Ridge area under the current administration to 4,754.14 hectares.
Key Takeaways
CM Rekha Gupta declared 673.32 hectares of the Central Ridge as Reserved Forest on 9 May 2025 .
The notification is under Section 20 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 , the strongest legal protection available.
The area covers parts around Sardar Patel Marg and the President's Estate under the Western Forest Division .
All five Ridge areas were first notified under Section 4 in 1994 ; full Reserved Forest status had remained pending for over 30 years .
The BJP-led Delhi government has now granted Reserved Forest status to a total of 4,754.14 hectares of Ridge areas, including 4,080.82 hectares of the Southern Ridge notified on 24 October 2024 .
Remaining Ridge areas are to be notified as Reserved Forests under Section 20 shortly, with the process being expedited.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday, 9 May 2025, declared 673.32 hectares of the Central Ridge as a Reserved Forest under Section 20 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 — a move aimed at curbing human activities, expanding green cover, and controlling pollution in the national capital. The notification covers parts surrounding Sardar Patel Marg and the President's Estate, falling under the Western Forest Division of the Forest Department.
What the Notification Means
Once an area is declared a Reserved Forest under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, all human activities — including grazing, hunting, logging, and entry — are prohibited unless explicitly permitted by authorities. The designation is among the strongest legal protections available to forest land under Indian law, aimed at safeguarding biodiversity and watersheds.
Chief Minister Gupta announced that large-scale plantation of native and environmentally suitable tree species will be carried out on all suitable vacant land within the newly protected Ridge areas. Officials said the move would strengthen groundwater levels and help mitigate the adverse impacts of urban pollution and climate change.
Three Decades in the Making
The notification closes a legal gap that had persisted for over 30 years. All five Ridge areas of Delhi were initially notified under Section 4 of the Indian Forest Act in 1994, but final legal protection under Section 20 — which confers full Reserved Forest status — remained pending for decades despite the ecological sensitivity of these zones.
Point of View
Unauthorised construction, and illegal dumping despite earlier Section 4 notifications — legal status alone has historically not been a deterrent. The BJP government deserves credit for completing a process pending since 1994, but the absence of a detailed enforcement and monitoring framework in the announcement leaves a critical question unanswered. With the remaining Ridge areas still unprotected, the pace of future notifications — and the resources allocated to the Forest Department for on-ground patrolling — will determine whether this milestone translates into measurable ecological recovery.
NationPress
9 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What does declaring the Central Ridge a Reserved Forest mean?
It means the 673.32-hectare area now has the strongest legal protection under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, prohibiting all human activities — including grazing, hunting, logging, and unauthorised entry — unless explicitly permitted. The move is intended to protect biodiversity, improve air quality, and strengthen groundwater levels in Delhi.
Why did it take more than 30 years for the Central Ridge to get Reserved Forest status?
All five Ridge areas of Delhi were initially notified under Section 4 of the Indian Forest Act in 1994, which is a preliminary step. The final notification under Section 20, which confers full Reserved Forest status, remained pending for over three decades due to procedural and administrative delays. The current BJP-led Delhi government completed the process in 2025.
How much of Delhi's Ridge has now been granted Reserved Forest status?
With the latest notification of 673.32 hectares of the Central Ridge, the current Delhi government has granted Reserved Forest status to a total of 4,754.14 hectares of Ridge areas. This includes 4,080.82 hectares of the Southern Ridge, which was notified on 24 October 2024.
What are the plans for the newly protected Central Ridge area?
The Delhi government plans to carry out large-scale plantation of native and environmentally suitable tree species on all suitable vacant land within the Reserved Forest area. Officials say the move will also help control pollution, improve air quality, and mitigate the effects of climate change on the national capital.
Will the remaining Ridge areas of Delhi also be protected?
Yes, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has stated that the remaining Ridge areas of Delhi will also be notified as Reserved Forests under Section 20 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, and that the process is being expedited.
