India, Dec. 11 -- The Centre's reconstitution of the Delhi Ridge Management Board (DRMB) and grant of statutory powers - following a Supreme Court directive - is a fresh attempt to protect the national Capital's "green lungs". To be sure, the Ridge Management Board has been around since 1995, but has always lacked the teeth needed to ensure the area remains protected. With multiple authorities vested with jurisdiction over the area, the Ridge eventually became nobody's baby. As a result, nearly 5% of the area has already been encroached upon. Making DRMB the single window for Ridge governance, including clearances and permissions for development projects, should address lingering problems.

The importance of the Delhi Ridge - including th...