New Delhi, Dec 11, 2025 — In a significant step toward preserving one of the capital’s most critical ecological assets, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has reconstituted the Delhi Ridge Management Board (DRMB) with statutory powers. The move, formally notified on December 1, comes in compliance with a Supreme Court directive issued in November, aimed at streamlining oversight and enforcement related to the Delhi Ridge, which has long faced pressure from urban development, encroachments, and construction activity.

The reconstituted DRMB will replace the existing board that had been operating since 1995, but without statutory authority. The December notification, issued under powers conferred by sub-section (3) of Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, allows the central government to establish specific authorities empowered to exercise functions including issuing directions for environmental protection. According to legal experts, statutory backing equips the DRMB with the enforceable authority needed to regulate activities affecting the Ridge, oversee afforestation, and act decisively against encroachments.

The Supreme Court bench of then-Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran had, in its November 11 order, emphasized the necessity of a statutory board, highlighting the inefficiency created by overlapping jurisdictions of multiple entities previously tasked with Ridge management. The court noted that the absence of a unified statutory authority had hindered enforcement, afforestation efforts, and the removal of encroachments. It directed that the reconstituted DRMB should focus on issuing permissions for use of the Ridge and taking concrete action to protect the city’s green lungs.

The Delhi Ridge, a forested area that forms an extension of the Aravalli hill range, spans approximately 7,777 hectares, divided into four zones: Northern, Central, South Central (Mehrauli), and Southern, as per the 2021 Master Plan for Delhi. Often described as the city’s “green lungs,” the Ridge provides critical ecological services, including air purification, carbon sequestration, groundwater recharge, urban heat moderation, and habitat for a variety of wildlife including leopards, jackals, porcupines, nilgai, and numerous bird and reptile species. Despite its ecological importance, the Ridge has faced persistent threats from real estate development, government projects, and unregulated construction.

The newly statutory DRMB will be chaired by the Chief Secretary of the Delhi government and will consist of thirteen members. These include representatives of the Director General of Forests and a special secretary from MoEFCC, a representative of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, a member from the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) appointed by the Supreme Court, and two civil society members nominated by the Delhi government. The CEC representative will be required to submit quarterly reports to the Supreme Court regarding the functioning of the DRMB and its standing committee, ensuring accountability and oversight.

While environmental experts have lauded the creation of a statutory board as a necessary step, they caution that effective enforcement will depend on how the DRMB exercises its authority. Raj Panjwani, senior advocate, noted that previous boards, though issuing orders and guidelines, failed to deliver timely remediation, particularly in clearing encroachments. “The functions of the board are laudable, but the real test will be the exercise of its powers, especially in directing removal of unauthorized constructions and encroachments. Identification of encroachments in the Southern Ridge took over a decade even after extensive surveys. Without decisive action, statutory status alone may not achieve tangible outcomes,” he said.

The MoEFCC, in a statement to HT, described the reconstitution of the DRMB as a “significant strengthening of the governance framework” for the protection of the Delhi Ridge and the Morphological Ridge. The ministry highlighted the persistent deficiencies of previous boards, including the lack of statutory authority, overlapping committees, weak enforcement, and poor inter-agency coordination. “The most critical improvement is the statutory backing now provided under the Environment Protection Act. Earlier DRMBs operated only through executive orders, limiting enforceability and accountability. The new Board’s statutory status ensures binding decision-making authority and oversight under the Hon’ble Supreme Court, resolving long-standing jurisdictional gaps,” the ministry said.

The Supreme Court’s November order also emphasized the ecological importance of the Ridge and the necessity for its proper identification and preservation. The court recognized that without dedicated oversight, the integrity of the Ridge’s ecology could be compromised. It directed the DRMB to actively safeguard the Ridge, ensure removal of encroachments, and promote afforestation. Currently, while the Ridge’s total identified area is 7,784 hectares, only 103.48 hectares have been formally notified under Section 20 of the Forest Act, illustrating the long-standing delays in formal protection measures.

Experts point out that the Ridge’s forests are among Delhi’s most vital geological and ecological assets. Vijay Dhasmana, curator of the Aravalli Biodiversity Park in Gurugram, explained that the Ridge helps replenish groundwater, reduce dust pollution, mitigate urban heat-island effects, and provide critical habitats for diverse wildlife species. He emphasized that the newly empowered DRMB should focus on removing encroachments, halting unauthorized land-use changes, and reconnecting fragmented stretches of the Ridge to allow wildlife to move freely. “Every degraded patch of the Ridge should be ecologically restored scientifically and systematically, allowing this ancient forest to heal and breathe life back into the city,” he said.

The Supreme Court’s intervention also underlines the need for the DRMB to coordinate with other authorities in Delhi to ensure compliance with environmental protections. Clause H of the notification mandates that all authorities in the National Capital Territory of Delhi act in aid of the board’s duties. This provision is critical in ensuring that statutory powers translate into on-the-ground enforcement rather than remaining a formal mechanism for issuing orders.

The DRMB’s mandate includes monitoring all activities that could affect the Ridge, granting permissions for projects within its zones, and coordinating with local authorities for afforestation and conservation efforts. The board will also have the authority to initiate action against encroachments and illegal construction, a function that has historically faced administrative inertia due to lack of statutory authority. The reconstitution also allows civil society members to participate in board deliberations, providing transparency and public accountability in decision-making.

The Delhi Ridge has historically served as a buffer against urban sprawl and environmental degradation, protecting the city from ecological stress and providing green spaces critical for residents’ health and well-being. However, decades of rapid urbanization, infrastructure projects, and encroachments have fragmented its landscape. The Supreme Court’s directive and the statutory reconstitution of the DRMB are intended to reverse this trend and restore the Ridge’s ecological integrity.

While the statutory authority is a step forward, environmentalists emphasize that it must be complemented by proactive enforcement, scientific restoration programs, and sustained monitoring. The reconstituted DRMB will need to balance developmental pressures with ecological preservation, ensuring that the Ridge continues to serve as the “green lungs” of Delhi while maintaining its biodiversity and ecological functions.

In conclusion, the statutory reconstitution of the DRMB represents a critical milestone in Delhi’s environmental governance. By centralizing authority, empowering enforcement, and providing a structured mechanism for oversight, the government aims to protect the Ridge from encroachment, degradation, and unregulated development. The success of this initiative, however, will depend on the board’s ability to translate its statutory powers into decisive action, implement ecological restoration programs, and ensure that Delhi’s iconic green lung continues to sustain the city’s environment and biodiversity for generations to come.