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| The northern extension of the Aravalli hill
range, the oldest mountain chain in the country, Delhi Ridge
is an integral and one of the most important areas of the National
Capital Territory. Sprawling into the capital from the Southeast
at Tughlaqabad, near the Bhatti mines, branching out in places
and tapering off in the north near Wazirabad on the right bank
of the River Yamuna, the ridge has been of strategic importance
to the area. It functions as the 'green lungs' of this bustling
and ever growing city. It not only shields the city from the
hot winds of the deserts of Rajasthan to a great extent but
also brings respite to the people from soaring temperatures
by retaining moisture and bringing down the temperature in this
region. |
| Divided into four zones, namely the southern
ridge, the south central ridge, the central or the new ridge,
and the northern or the Old Delhi ridge, it is considered to
be a significant and precious part of the environmental heritage
of the capital. The ridge together with the Yamuna River is
one of the main reasons for the flourishing of so many civilizations
in the region. It is also because of the above combination that
Delhi is known as the most bird-rich capital in the world after
Nairobi. Though the ridge has been affected and most of the
animals have vanished over the years, due to increasing human
activities but still there are at least 200 hundred species
of birds that have been sighted in this area of the capital.
An ideal place for bird watchers and nature lovers, visiting
the ridge can be a refreshing experience, viewing nature's astonishing
beauty and enjoying its serenity and peacefulness in the midst
of this noisy city. |
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| Though now a protected forest, the ridge or
the green belt was not a completely natural forest. Large-scale
afforestation was done during the Sultanate period to ensure
that the wild animals remain in the forest, because the area
was used as a hunting ground by many emperors. Feroz Shah Tughlaq,
who was very fond of hunting, also planted hundreds of trees
in the Old Delhi ridge area during his reign. Later during the
construction of New Delhi, the British too planted several trees
on the ridge and declared it a Reserved Forest, realizing its
importance for the ecology of the region. |
| At present, efforts are being made to save this
green area from exploitation. Lately residents of Delhi have
come to appreciate the role of the Delhi Ridge in diminishing
the pollution levels of the air and in providing a green space
to for birds and wildlife within the city. |
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