Supreme Court on Delhi Ridge Area: The Supreme Court said on Wednesday (February 8) that the ridge area of Delhi acts like a lung and provides oxygen to the people of the city.
The court directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) not to allot any land in the ridge area which is considered to be notified as a safe/protected area. The Court acknowledged that there are some difficulties in identifying those areas of the ridge which are not notified but have the same characteristics as the ridge.
The bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice Vikram Nath said this
A bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice Vikram Nath directed the Ministry of Environment and Forests to appoint a senior officer of the Ministry of not less than Joint Secretary level, one representative each of the Delhi Forest Department, the Geological Survey of India and the DDA, and one representative of the Ridge Management Board. Constitute a committee with a nominated member who will find a way to decide the identity of the protected area as a notified ridge.
The court said that senior officials of the ministry will be the chairman and convenor of the committee and this committee will submit its report to the top court on March 15.
‘Ridge acts like lungs in Delhi’
The bench said, “It cannot be doubted that the ridge in Delhi acts like a lung which gives oxygen to the people of Delhi. This Court, in its order dated…, had held that not only the notified ridge, but other areas having its features should also be protected and no construction should be permitted there.
The bench said, “It appears that there are some difficulties in identifying those areas of the ridge which are not notified but their features are similar (to the ridge).” Provided that till further orders, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) shall not allow construction in the areas which are being considered for notification.
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