The Supreme Court has given an important decision regarding the security of the Ridge area, which is considered the green lungs of the capital Delhi. The court has directed the Central Government to give statutory status to Delhi Ridge Management Board (DRMB). The Supreme Court said that the DRMB has to act as a “single window authority” for all matters to the ridge and morphological ridge, so that permissions or disputes to development projects and environmental protection can be settled through a single platform. The bench also directed to remove all encroachments from the ridge and morphological ridge areas and ensure that no new construction activity takes place in these green areas.

Without ridge ecology will be affected

Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran’s bench, while delivering the verdict, said that without legal protection and effective governance, the ecology of the ridge would be seriously affected. The court directed the DRMB to act as a ‘single window authority’ for all matters relating to the ridge and the morphological ridge, so that coordinated decisions can be taken in environmental and development matters.

Asked to remove encroachment from ridge and morphological ridge areas

The Chief Justice-led bench considered three key issues in its decision to issue the final notification of Delhi Ridge under the Forest Act. Removal of encroachment from Delhi Ridge and Morphological Ridge areas. To scientifically identify morphological ridges.

The court also clarified that the ridge area is extremely important for environmental sustainability of Delhi, air pollution control, groundwater recharge and maintaining temperature balance. The court directed that any new construction activity in the ridge and morphological ridge areas be completely prohibited.

What is morphological ridge?

Let us tell you that morphological ridge is the area which is not officially notified as forest land, but its ecological and geographical characteristics are similar to the ridge area. The court said that the integrity of the entire ecology of Delhi cannot be maintained without proper conservation of the ridge area.

The top court said that the ridge area serves as the lungs of Delhi. In such a situation, the court believes that the Delhi Ridge Management Board (DRMB) needs to work actively for the protection of the Delhi Ridge area after getting proper recognition. The court also made it clear that not notifying the ridge as a reserved forest deprives this important area of ​​environmental protection.

Nothing special has been done even after 3 decades

The Supreme Court strongly criticized the Delhi government for the lack of protection of the ridge area despite repeated judicial directions given during the last three decades. The court said that as early as May 1996, it had said that the government had not taken appropriate steps to conserve the ridge, but even after almost three decades had passed, no concrete progress had been made in this direction.

encroachment on the ridge area

Citing reports, the court said that it has become clear that encroachment is taking place on a large scale in the ridge area. Calling it an important ecological part of the national capital, the court directed removal of all encroachments. The Supreme Court also said that the process of identification and demarcation of ‘Morphological Ridge’, started under the order of February 2023, should be completed and the report of its progress should be submitted to the court.

Follow the LALLURAM.COM MP channel on WhatsApp

Click to read big news of India and abroad

Click here to read Read.com news in English

Click here to read sports news

Click to read big entertainment news