the ridge area in contravention of the apex court’s 1997 order.

According to Delhi News line, the Delhi High Court on March 21 stayed construction on the biodiversity park in Vasant Kunj based on a PIL stating that the area was part of the Ridge and was to be preserved in its “pristine glory”.

The Army stated that the disputed area was theirs and categorised as A1 which was needed to rehabilitate those who had fought in the Kargil War. Also, they made it evident, that the Delhi Master Plan did not apply to the Army.

It is understood that in their report to the Supreme Court, the CEC has recommended that the area with the DDA (excluding the 92 ha) and about 300 odd acres with the army be notified650 hectares of land in the Vasant Kunj-Mahipalpur area as part of the Ridge.

Despite many Supreme Court committees directing that the area be notified as a reserve forest, the MPD has not included the area. Environmentalists say that having failed to fill up water bodies across the city, the DDA is now eyeing the commercial benefits of the Ridge.

The MPD mentions 7,777 hectares as the notified Ridge. This only includes the Northern, Central, South-Central (Sanjay Van) and Southern (Bhatti mine area) belt. Currently, the controversial Vasant Kunj malls are coming up on 25 hectares of this land, the army has 330 hectares and the DDA 315.

The Ridge Management Board, a seven-member non-statutory body consisting of representatives from the government, DDA and non-government organisations, supposed to protect the ridge,