New Delhi, Dec. 11 -- The Union environment ministry has reconstituted the Delhi Ridge Management Board (DRMB) with statutory powers, as directed by the Supreme Court in November, in a move that will create one entity responsible for issuing permissions related to use of the Delhi Ridge, and monitoring and acting against encroachments and other violations that threaten the Capital's green lung.

It replaces the existing Ridge Management Board, which was constituted in 1995 and reconstituted several times, albeit without statutory powers. The December 1 notification was issued under powers conferred by sub-section (3) of Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. This section empowers the Central government to establish specific ...