New Delhi, March 19 -- Phase-1 of the joint survey for demarcation of the 864-hectare central Ridge is now complete, with over 600 hectares identified as encroachment-free. Officials said phase-2, which will assess disputed boundaries and land under litigation, is already underway, with plans to complete the exercise by March 31. The central Ridge is Delhi's second-largest Ridge area, but apart from the southern Ridge (6,200 hectares), the city's other Ridge areas have never been demarcated. The ongoing exercise to demarcate land and identify encroachments will pave the way for notification of the central Ridge under Section 20, formally designating it as a protected forest. Delhi's Ridge areas have already been notified in 1994, under Section 4 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927. This is the first stage of notification that declares a land as protected forest, and also defines its total area. However, the final notification, which is done under Section 20 of the same act is yet to be completed for Ridge areas, except the southern Ridge, where 4,080 hectares were notified in October last year. The final notification grants complete protection and defines the boundaries, allowing authorities to act on encroachments immediately. "Phase-1 of the joint demarcation exercise, carried out by the forest department, revenue department, DDA and L&DO, is complete, with over 600 hectares identified as encroachment-free. In the second phase, which has already begun, disputed boundaries and areas under litigation will be assessed," said a senior government official aware of the matter, adding that the notification of this encumbrance-free land can be carried out soon. "A file will be moved for the same," the official further added, stating that after 4,080 hectares were notified in the southern Ridge last year, nearly 700 hectares of additional forest land there will be taken up soon....