‘Lungs Of Delhi’ To Get Legal Protection: NGT Told Ridge Notification Approved By CM And LG

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) Principal Bench at New Delhi on October 16, 2025, recorded the assurance of the Government of the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi that the final notification declaring 4,080.82 hectares of the Ridge area as a protected forest under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, has been approved and will be published within three weeks.

The Bench, comprising Justice Prakash Shrivastava (Chairperson) and Dr. A. Senthil Vel (Expert Member), was hearing Execution Application No. 32/2024 in OA No. 10/2014 (Pavit Singh v. State of NCT of Delhi & Ors.), Execution Application No. 39/2024 in OA No. 58/2013 (Sonya Ghosh v. Govt. of NCT of Delhi & Ors.), and Original Application No. 1188/2024 concerning the protection and notification of the Delhi Ridge, often described as the “lungs of Delhi.”

The Delhi government informed the Tribunal that the final notification under Section 20 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, had been approved by both the Hon’ble Chief Minister and the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. The government stated that while the English version of the notification had already been finalized, translation into Hindi was in progress and would be completed shortly, enabling publication within three weeks.

According to the submission made before the Tribunal, the notification pertains to Phase I, covering an area of 4,080.82 hectares that will be officially notified as protected forest under the Indian Forest Act. The move forms part of long pending efforts to secure legal protection for Delhi’s Ridge area, which has been under litigation for years due to encroachments, illegal constructions, and the need for ecological conservation.

Taking note of the submission, the Tribunal directed the Government of NCT of Delhi to file an affidavit immediately after three weeks, placing on record the final notification to ensure that the statutory process under Section 20 is completed and documented. The matter has been listed for further hearing on November 19, 2025.

The order comes in a series of proceedings that trace back to multiple applications seeking enforcement of earlier NGT directions to preserve the Ridge area, an extension of the Aravalli Range that plays a vital ecological role in regulating Delhi’s air quality and preventing desertification.

The Ridge has been recognized as an essential natural barrier against dust storms and as a carbon sink amid worsening air pollution in the National Capital Region.

The NGT has, in previous proceedings, repeatedly underscored the importance of notifying the Ridge under the Indian Forest Act to bring it within a legally enforceable framework of protection. It has also issued directions to remove encroachments, prevent dumping of debris, and ensure strict monitoring by the Forest Department, Delhi Development Authority (DDA), and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

Senior Advocate Raj Panjwani, appearing as Amicus Curiae, has previously emphasized the urgent need for the Delhi government to complete the notification process to give statutory effect to the Ridge’s protection status. The Tribunal’s acknowledgment of the finalization of the notification marks a significant procedural milestone in that direction.

The Ridge area, divided into multiple zones including the Northern, Central, and Southern Ridge, has faced challenges from urban development and land-use conflicts. Once formally notified under Section 20, it will gain legal immunity from non forest use without prior approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. This is expected to strengthen conservation measures and ensure accountability for its protection.

The matter will now be monitored by the Tribunal to ensure that the notification is duly published and that compliance is reported through affidavit. The next hearing will review the government’s submission and the final publication status.

Case Title(s): Pavit Singh v. State (NCT of Delhi) & Ors.; Sonya Ghosh v. Govt. of NCT of Delhi & Ors.; News Item titled “Why efforts to reclaim the Ridge Delhi’s lungs is no easy task”

Bench: Justice Prakash Shrivastava (Chairperson) and Dr. A. Senthil Vel (Expert Member)

Date of Order: October 16, 2025