India, May 10 -- In a landmark move to combat pollution and restore ecological balance in the Capital, the Delhi Government has granted Reserved Forest status to over 670 hectares of the Central Ridge area under the Indian Forest Act, to strengthen environmental protection, biodiversity conservation and pollution control in the national capital. According to an official statement issued on Saturday, the notified area falls under the Western Forest Division and covers parts around Sardar Patel Marg and the President's Estate.

With the present notification of 673.32 hectares of the Central Ridge, the current Government has so far granted Reserved Forest status to a total of 4754.14 hectares of Ridge areas. The Chief Minister said that othe...