L-G approves reconstitution of multi-agency Ridge Management Board

Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) Taranjit Singh Sandhu on Tuesday approved the reconstitution and notification of the Delhi Ridge Management Board (DRMB) comprising representatives from government agencies, enforcement bodies and environmental experts.

According to an official statement, the reconstituted DRMB, constituted in pursuance of a Supreme Court order in T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad versus Union of India & Ors. and anchored in Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, will steer Ridge governance through an integrated, multi-agency mechanism.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had directed authorities to expedite the constitution of the DRMB and submit progress reports on Ridge protection. “DRMB should be constituted and will proceed with the assigned work as expeditiously as possible,” the NGT said in its May 18 order.

The Chief Secretary will serve as Chairman of the Board while the Vice-Chairman of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will be a member. The Board will also include senior representatives of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).

“While the Ridge in Delhi is owned by the DDA, the Environment and Forest Department is responsible for its maintenance. The MCD, NDMC, Revenue Department and Delhi Police are entrusted with enforcement responsibilities for its protection,” read the statement.

The Board will include environmental experts nominated through the Ministry of Home Affairs, including the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Sustainable Green Economy and the Director of Research and Communications at the Sankala Foundation.

Technical oversight and regulatory enforcement will be supported by representatives of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Delhi Police, the Revenue Department, and the Environment and Forest Department.

A standing committee will operate under the DRMB to facilitate rapid-response environmental interventions. It will be headed by a nominee of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), with the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (GNCTD) serving as Member-Secretary and the Additional Commissioner (Landscape) of the DDA as a member.