Many people often refer to the Delhi Ridge as the city’s “lungs”. Alongside the Yamuna River, it plays a pivotal role in maintaining the city's ecological balance. To safeguard this landscape, the Delhi Development Authority’s (DDA) Master Plan 2041 has introduced a new roadmap focused on its conservation and effective management. Newslaundry takes a closer look at the DDA’s roadmap for the Ridge and what it means for the city’s future.
Approximately 20 percent of Delhi is draped in greenery. The Ridge itself – a designated Reserve Forest spanning roughly 7,784 hectares – accounts for about 5.2 percent of the city's geographical footprint. It serves as a vital hub for biodiversity, sheltering a diverse array of species and playing a crucial role in groundwater recharge – a function of paramount importance for a metropolis like Delhi.
The Master Plan envisions a city where residents have access to a clean and healthy environment, better equipped to combat the effects of pollution and global warming. Under this plan, the Ridge is officially a protected forest zone where only limited activities are permitted.
Puneet Singh, from Deoli in rural Delhi, emphasises that conservation requires a collective effort: “Public participation is essential. This task is not solely the government's responsibility, but rather a shared duty of both society and the state.”
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