3.6.1 Introduction
 
 

Delhi, the National Capital Territory of India, has a geographic area of 1,483 sq km. It is situated between lat. 28⁰ 25¢ to 28⁰ 52¢ N and long. 76⁰ 50¢ to 77⁰ 21¢ E. It is divided into two zones, the extension of Aravalli Hills and the Plains. Yamuna river is the main source of water.
 
 

Climate is hot in summer and cold in winter. The rainfall varies from 400 mm to 600 mm. The average annual temperature ranges between 22⁰ C to 25⁰ C. The land use pattern of the state is given in Table 3.6.a.
 
 

The population of the state is 9.42 million (1991 census) with a density of 6,352 persons per sq.km. Urban population is 89.92% and rural population 10.08%. Total livestock population is 0.32 million (1992 livestock census).
 
 

Table 3.6.a: Land use
 

Land use	Area in ‘000 ha	Percentage
Total geographical area	148
Reporting area for land utilisation	147	100.00
Forests	1	0.68
Not available for cultivation	83	56.46
Permanent pasture and other grazing lands	a	0
Land under misc. tree crops & groves	1	0.68
Culturable wasteland	7	4.76
Fallow land other than current fallows	8	5.44
Current fallows	a	0
Net area sown	47	31.97

a : Below 500 ha

Source : Land use statistics At a Glance 1996-97, Ministry of Agriculture , GOI, 2000
 

3.6.2 Forest Resources

The natural forests, are mainly of Tropical Dry Deciduous type. The total recorded forest area is 8,451 ha. The Reserved forest is 7,777 ha and Protected and other forests are 674 ha.

3.6.3 Protected Areas

There is only one Wildlife Sanctuary, Asola - Bhatti, created in 1986. The area was extended in 1991. The total area now is 2,760 ha.

3.6.4 Forest Plantations
 

Tree plantation has been taken up extensively since early 1980s mainly along roads (188 running km.), railway tracks (170 running km.), bunds/canals and river banks.
 
 

The species planted include Azadirachta indica, Syzygium cumini, Terminalia arjuna, Anthocephalus cadamba, Casuarina equisetifolia, Sapindus spp.,, Dalbergia sissoo, Cassis fistula, Kigelia pinnata, Tectona grandis, Melia azaderach, Morus laevigata, Bauhinia spp. etc. Details of plantations undertaken during different Plan periods are given in Table 3.6.b.
 

Table 3.6.b: Forest Plantations by all Agencies
 
 
 

Period	Area in ‘000 ha
Upto 1980	2.93
1980-85	5.49
1985-90	10.75
1990-91	3.94
1991-92	3.88
1992-97	15.83
1997-98	0.18
1998-99	1.05
Total

Source: NAEB, MoEF 1999
 
 

3.6.5 Forests in villages
 
 

There are 199 villages of which 5 have forest as a land use. The total forest area in these villages is 283 ha. The total population of these villages is 13,605. Table 3.6.c provides details of villages by forest area and population.
 
 

Table 3.6.c Forests as land use in villages
 
 
 

Forest Area	No. of villages	Total Forest Area (ha)	Population
Less than 100 ha	4	22	10,832
100 – 500 ha	1	261	2,773
Total

 

3.6.6 Forest cover
 
 

The forest cover of the state, based on satellite data of October-November 1998, is 88 sq.km which constitutes 5.93% of the geographic area. Dense forest accounts for 35 sq.km and open forest 53 sq.km. The forest cover of the state is shown in Fig. 3.5. An overall increase of 62 sq.km in forest cover has been observed in the present assessment compared to the previous one. Dense forest registered an increase of 19 sq.km and open forest increased by 43 sq. km. In the previous assessment, the satellite data used was partly of October-November 1994 and partly of October-November, 1992. The difference between the data period of two assessments is about 5 years.
 
 

The change matrix, given in Table 3.6.d, reveals that there has been an increase of 19 sq. km. of dense forest and 43 sq. km. of open forest on account of improvement of non forest area. The increase in the forest cover in Delhi is mainly due to protection provided to the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary since its extension in 1991 and plantation efforts made in the Northern and South Central ridge.
 
 

Table 3.6.d: Forest cover change matrix

Note - Assessment of forest cover in VI cycle (1997) was carried out visually on 1:250,000 scale, whereas in the VII cycle (1999) it has been done digitally on 1:50,000 scale. The total forest cover as per present assessment on 1:50,000 scale, is 108 sq.km. which comprises of 38 sq.km. of dense forest and 70 sq.km. of open forest. The extent of scrub is 3 sq.km. Area of forest cover mentioned in the foregoing para has been obtained by transformation to 1:250,000 for the purpose of comparison with the VI cycle (see section 2.2).