India, April 25 -- On March 11, 2026, the Delhi Government's Department of Forests and Wildlife published a tender to develop four "themed forests" inside the Central Ridge, one of the last ecologically intact reserved forests in the capital. They named them Tirthankar Van, Ritu Van, Rashi Van, and Panchvati Van, forests themed around Hindu and Jain religious figures, seasons, zodiac signs, and Hindu sacred trees. The project would cost over five crore rupees. Quite upfront in the tender document was the supply and spreading of two pesticides, lindane and chlorpyrifos, to be applied to the soil of the protected forest.

Lindane has been banned in India since 2011 except for public health emergencies. The Central Insecticide Board and Regi...