New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has approved the notification of around 1,000 acres (400 hectares) of additional land in the Southern Ridge as Reserved Forest, a move that will expand Delhi’s notified Ridge area to approximately 13,000 acres (5,250 hectares).
The Delhi government has described the decision as an important step towards strengthening protection of the capital’s natural green areas. The Ridge forms part of the Delhi extension of the Aravalli Range and is considered an important ecological landscape within the National Capital Territory.
According to the government, the protected green areas can contribute to biodiversity conservation, air-quality improvement, temperature regulation and broader environmental protection.
Additional 1,000 Acres of Southern Ridge to Get Reserved Forest Status
The approved area is located in the Southern Ridge, which represents the northern extension of the Aravalli landscape in Delhi.
The Chief Minister said the process of issuing final notifications for eligible Ridge areas had remained pending for a long period and is now being expedited.
The latest decision is part of a broader effort to bring more eligible Ridge land under permanent legal protection.
The Delhi Ridge consists of four major sections:
- Northern Ridge
- Central Ridge
- South-Central Ridge
- Southern Ridge
The Delhi Forest Department describes the Ridge as an important ecological landscape supporting native flora and fauna, wildlife habitat and groundwater recharge while helping regulate the urban environment.
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Delhi Ridge Seen as Important Green and Ecological Zone
The Southern Ridge is particularly significant because it forms part of the Delhi extension of the Aravalli Range.
The area is also associated with important ecological assets, including the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary, which lies within the Southern Ridge. The sanctuary is described by the Delhi government as an important refuge for wildlife in the urban landscape.
The government has highlighted the wider environmental role of Delhi’s Ridge areas, including their contribution to:
- Biodiversity conservation
- Green cover
- Urban environmental regulation
- Carbon absorption
- Temperature moderation
- Wildlife habitat
- Groundwater recharge
The Delhi government has also previously described the Ridge as a natural heritage and an important green buffer for the capital.
More Eligible Ridge Areas to Be Brought Under Protection
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the process of protecting the Ridge will not end with the notification of the additional Southern Ridge land.
The government is continuing the statutory process for other eligible areas of the Delhi Ridge so that more land can gradually be brought under Reserved Forest protection.
The move also comes amid a strengthened institutional framework for Ridge conservation. The Delhi Ridge Management Board (DRMB) was constituted in June 2026 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, following directions connected with the Supreme Court’s Ridge-related proceedings. The Board functions as the apex authority for protecting, restoring and regulating activities within the Delhi Ridge and Morphological Ridge.
Government Steps Up Focus on Delhi’s Green Cover
The latest decision forms part of wider environmental measures being undertaken in Delhi.
In June 2026, the Union and Delhi governments launched several green initiatives, including the Namo Oxygen Parks, while the Delhi government also highlighted plans to strengthen green cover and ecological conservation.
The Delhi government has also been working on the Delhi Working Plan 2026–36, along with conservation and biodiversity-related planning for the capital’s natural areas.
Pollution Hotspots to Be Identified and Mapped
Alongside the Ridge conservation measures, the Delhi government has stepped up efforts to monitor air pollution hotspots across the city.
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa held a review meeting with officials, legislators and enforcement agencies from the East, Northeast, South and Southeast districts.
Officials were directed to identify and map pollution hotspots based on Air Quality Index (AQI) monitoring.
The exercise is intended to help authorities identify areas experiencing higher pollution levels and strengthen targeted monitoring and enforcement.
Delhi already has a network of continuous ambient air-quality monitoring stations operated by agencies including the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, covering locations across the capital.
Focus on Environmental Protection and Air Quality
The Ridge notification and pollution-hotspot monitoring form part of two parallel areas of Delhi’s environmental strategy: protecting the city’s natural green spaces and improving monitoring of air pollution.
The government’s approach includes strengthening legal protection for Ridge areas while using air-quality data to identify pollution hotspots and guide enforcement measures.
Earlier in 2026, the Union Environment Ministry also reviewed Delhi-NCR’s air-pollution action plan with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and senior Delhi government officials, emphasising coordinated implementation, road-dust mitigation, traffic management, electric mobility and waste-management measures.
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