India, Nov. 12 -- As toxic haze once again blanketed the Capital, the Supreme Court on Tuesday pulled up the Delhi government for failing to protect the Delhi Ridge, and issued a sweeping order to safeguard it from further encroachments and neglect.

Calling the Ridge the city's "green lung", the apex court gave statutory backing to the long-defunct Delhi Ridge Management Board (DRMB), expanded its composition, and directed it to act as a single-window authority for all matters concerning the Ridge and the Morphological Ridge.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Bhushan R Gavai and justice K Vinod Chandran said, "The Board shall act as a single-window authority insofar as the Delhi Ridge and the Morphological Ridge is concerned," wh...