Delhi Forest Department Clears 225 Acres of Encroached Land, Southern Ridge Sees Biggest Action

The Delhi Forest Department has successfully cleared more than 225 acres of forest land from illegal encroachments across various parts of the national capital. This major initiative, which has been ongoing since the 2019-20 financial year, primarily focused on the southern regions of the city where illegal occupation was most prevalent. Recent data reveals that while significant progress has been made, a substantial portion of forest land still remains under encroachment.

Which areas in Delhi saw the most action against encroachment?

The anti-encroachment drive significantly impacted the South Forest Division, where the department reclaimed approximately 190 acres of land between 2019 and 2025. In the West Forest Division, authorities cleared around 27.7 acres, specifically targeting the southern ridge areas including Rajokari, Rangpuri, Ghitorni, and Mahipalpur. The South-East district also saw over 7 acres of land being freed from illegal structures.

What are the legal steps and future deadlines for clearing forest land?

The Environment Ministry has issued a clear directive to remove all illegal encroachments within a period of two years. To strengthen these efforts, the Delhi government completed the Reserved Forest notification for 4,080 hectares of the Southern Ridge in November 2025. This notification, issued under Section 20 of the Indian Forest Act 1927, provides full legal protection to these lands and simplifies the process for police and forest officials to take action against squatters.

Currently, about 308 hectares of forest land in Delhi remains under encroachment, which is roughly 5 percent of the total 6,626 hectares of forest cover. The department has been submitting regular updates to the National Green Tribunal and has coordinated with the SDM and police departments to ensure that no new constructions or farming activities take place on these protected lands.