Forest mapping to fix Ridge boundaries

New Delhi: With a view to end encroachments in the Delhi Ridge, the forest and revenue department has completed mapping the forest area through satellite based technology in at least 14 villages as part of the demarcation process of the Southern Ridge.  

The satellite based mapping, done by fixing geo coordinates (latitude and longitude), is being done for the first time for the Delhi Ridge. This will help in getting fixed boundaries for the forest.

“These geo coordinates will remain fixed even after 100 years and encroaching on this land will not be possible. Once it is completed, there will be no doubt about the demarcation of the forest land,” said a senior official of the forest department. The process has been pending for years, leading to encroachments. In 1996, the Supreme Court had ordered protection of the Delhi Ridge from encroachment. However, the process has not been done yet. In February, the NGT (National Green Tribunal) had slammed the government for its “casual approach” for delaying the demarcation process and fixed June 30 as the deadline. The revenue department is handling the demarcation exercise and the officials said it will be completed by June.

The Southern Ridge is the biggest ridge, with the maximum forest cover in the national capital, including the Asola Bhati Wildlife Sanctuary.

“There is a total of 11,529 acre of forest land under the Southern Ridge and out of that we have completed mapping 9,574 acre. Mapping is done by geo satellite points (total station method), which we identify as coordinates on maps and then put temporary pillars on the location. Out of the total 21 villages, only seven are left now,” said SDM (Saket) Ramchandra Shingare.

The official said a great portion the Southern Ridge, which is often called the functioning lungs of the city, is encroached either by farmhouses, unauthorised colonies, or religious structures or of the religious kind such as the Radha Soami Satsang sect.

“The small encroachments are being removed simultaneously and the big ones will be done once the demarcation process is completed,” said the forest official.

While temporary pillars are being installed where demarcation has been completed, the construction work for a permanent boundary wall will start after June.

“The forest land is not continuous. There is some government and private land in between too. So it’s not a straight line and that is why it is taking some time to demarcate it,” Mr Shingare said.  

After the fencing and boundary work is done, the forest department will undertake “extensive plantation” and patrolling.