The Union environment ministry’s decision to grant statutory powers to the Delhi Ridge Management Board (DRMB), following a Supreme Court directive, marks a significant shift in how Delhi’s fragile Ridge ecosystem will be governed. Long described as the Capital’s “green lungs”, the Ridge has faced decades of encroachments, fragmented authority, and weak enforcement. The reconstitution aims to correct these institutional failures and place responsibility squarely on one empowered body.
Why the Delhi Ridge Matters Ecologically
Stretching across nearly 7,800 hectares, the Delhi Ridge is the northern extension of the Aravalli range and plays a critical role in the city’s ecology. It moderates the urban heat island effect, replenishes groundwater, checks dust storms, and supports diverse wildlife. In a city battling extreme air pollution and water stress, the Ridge functions as an ecological buffer whose degradation directly affects urban resilience.
From Advisory Body to Statutory Authority
The Ridge Management Board was first constituted in 1995, largely in response to Supreme Court interventions, but functioned only through executive orders. Without statutory backing, it lacked enforceability and clarity of jurisdiction. The December 1 notification under Section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 changes this status fundamentally, empowering the Central government to create a legally binding authority for environmental protection.
Supreme Court’s Push for Institutional Clarity
In its November 11 order, the Supreme Court underlined that multiple agencies overseeing the Ridge had resulted in overlapping jurisdictions and ineffective protection. The Court stressed that without statutory authority, the DRMB could not act decisively against encroachments or illegal land-use changes. It directed the Union environment ministry to notify the board under the EP Act, giving it “teeth to act”.
Composition and Mandate of the New DRMB
The reconstituted DRMB will have 13 members and be chaired by the Delhi government’s Chief Secretary. Its composition reflects an attempt at inter-agency coordination:
- Senior representatives from the MoEFCC and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
- A member from the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC)
- Two civil society representatives
The Board will be responsible for issuing permissions related to Ridge land, overseeing afforestation, and coordinating the removal of encroachments. Importantly, the CEC representative must report to the Supreme Court every three months, ensuring judicial oversight.
Encroachments: The Core Challenge
Despite repeated surveys, particularly in the southern Ridge, encroachments remain largely unremoved. Legal experts point out that identification is no longer the bottleneck; enforcement is. While the new DRMB has statutory backing, concerns remain about whether it can translate authority into swift on-ground action, especially against politically or economically powerful encroachers.
Forest Law Gaps and Governance Questions
A striking issue highlighted by the Supreme Court is that although over 7,700 hectares of Ridge land have been identified, only about 103 hectares have been formally notified as forest under Section 20 of the Indian Forest Act. This legal ambiguity has historically enabled diversion and construction. The DRMB’s effectiveness will depend on how it navigates these gaps and pushes for clearer legal status of Ridge lands.
What This Means for Urban Environmental Governance
The statutory DRMB represents a broader trend of courts stepping in to strengthen environmental institutions where executive action has been weak. If effective, it could become a model for managing urban ecological commons in other Indian cities. If not, it risks becoming another authority issuing orders without enforcement, reinforcing scepticism among conservationists.
What to Note for Prelims?
- Section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 empowers the Centre to create statutory environmental authorities.
- Delhi Ridge: extension of the Aravalli range; identified area ~7,777 hectares.
- DRMB now has statutory backing following Supreme Court directions.
What to Note for Mains?
- Role of judiciary in strengthening environmental governance.
- Challenges of urban ecological conservation amid competing development pressures.
- Institutional issues: overlapping jurisdictions, enforcement deficits, and statutory clarity.
- Importance of green spaces for climate resilience and public health in megacities.
