Delhi Ridge Tree-Cutting: Supreme Court Orders 185 Acres Plantation By March 2026

Delhi’s Ridge faces a green makeover after a controversial tree-felling. The Supreme Court has stepped in but what’s planned could change the city’s landscape. Read the article given below to know the full details.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has ordered the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the Forest Department to ensure compensatory plantation on 185 acres of land in the Delhi Ridge area, following the controversial felling of trees. The top court has set a deadline for completing the plantation by March 2026.

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant, Ujjal Bhuyan, and Joymalya Bagchi highlighted that winter is not suitable for planting trees, and therefore extended the timeline to March next year to ensure proper survival and growth of the saplings. 

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Multiple Sites for Plantation

The DDA and Forest Department informed the court that instead of replanting at a single location, the plantation will be spread across 18 different sites, covering around 168.88 acres. Possession of 17 sites has already been handed over to the Forest Department, while the remaining site, which was under dispute, has now been resolved.

The Supreme Court clarified that even if any minor disputes remain, the land must still be transferred to the Forest Department without delay.

The court also noted that dispersing the plantation across multiple locations would be more beneficial for the environment than concentrating it in a single area. Additionally, the Forest Department will begin work on constructing boundary walls around the plantation sites to protect the saplings.

Funding and Implementation

The Supreme Court instructed the DDA to release necessary funds to the Forest Department immediately to ensure smooth execution of the plantation program. The bench stressed that the work should progress quickly, emphasizing the need to improve greenery and air quality in the national capital.

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Background: Why Trees Were Felled

The tree-felling in Delhi Ridge, a protected ecological zone, was carried out to widen an access road leading to the Central Armed Police Forces Institute of Medical Sciences (CAPFIMS). The new tertiary care hospital primarily caters to paramilitary personnel, their families, retirees, and members of the public. The project required additional road space, which led to the removal of several trees, prompting legal intervention and subsequent orders for compensatory plantation.

The Supreme Court’s order seeks to balance developmental needs with environmental preservation, ensuring that the greenery and ecological health of the Delhi Ridge are restored in a timely manner.