Overview
- The Delhi government, which issued the order Saturday, designated 673.32 hectares of the Central Ridge as a Reserved Forest under Section 20 of the Indian Forest Act.
- The tract lies in the Western Forest Division near Sardar Patel Marg and the President’s Estate, with rules that ban grazing, hunting, and logging unless a permit is granted.
- Officials said only parcels free of disputes were included, covering more than 75% of the 864-hectare Central Ridge along both sides of Upper Ridge Road.
- With this step, Reserved Forest coverage on the Delhi Ridge rises to 4,754.14 hectares, while South-Central and Northern sections still await final notification.
- The government plans large-scale planting of native species across the Ridge, and a May 5 request for proposals outlines a Miyawaki-style plot near Sardar Patel Marg on 10 acres for 100,000 to 150,000 saplings.