Darshan Kunwar
Popularly known as a fascinating and amazing Valley of Green Hedges and Grey Hair(Valley of lush green covers
and retired people), Picturesque Dehradun city’ has been rapidly
transforming into metros with change of its face on various counts. It is no longer now a Paradise for Grey hair.
India’ one of the oldest towns with its over 8 lakh population, is fast turning into concrete jungles with alarming rise in massive construction activities and alarming rise in population level with each passing day.
Nestled below famous Mussoorie hill station and set up during the British Raj, Doon has been home not only to highlanders migrating from Uttarakhand’ far-flung hills and plains like Pauri,Chamoli,Tehri,Jaunsar Bhabhar , Almora,and Haridwar but also those coming from metro towns like Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.
A sizable number of folks from metros like Delhi, have shifted to Dehradun over the years, owing to worst health related conditions including phenomenal rise in pollution levels and other health related problems there.
Being an extremely accommodating city, those who reach here at least once, or are posted here, try to
settle down later or sooner due to its cooler and conducive climatic conditions “, said retired Uttarakhand DGP Anil K Raturi.” It is always pleasant and exhilarating experience to visit Dehradun as it gives renewed joys and thrills each time you drop in here.”, added a Delhi based Journalist Rajeshwar Prasad.
However, with the passage of time, the city has considerably lost its luster and it’s lush green cover with rapid urbanisation during the last over a decade.
The valley that used to witness snowfall decades ago owing to its least urbanisation, has become now crowded and traffic bottleneck city like Delhi, with 60 percent influx of people from outside over the years.
State capital began its fast urbanisation ever since it was declared Uttarakhand’ state capital in 2000.
Experts said what set the tone for rapid transformation in the valley ,was the beginning the process of turning this fascinating city into concrete jungles by razing down multiple green trees and destroying it’s once known as famous aromatic Basmati Paddy crop fields to speed up construction activities to meet the state capital’ requirements.
A study conducted by BJP ruled Uttarakhand Government revealed that over 600% concrete cover shot up in the city during the 10 years. Officials admit that process of urbanisation that started after 1995 continues till today.
This resulted in dealing serious blow to Dehradun’ as many as 20 natural seasonal waterfalls streams,according to study.
Massive construction activities also led to water scarcity as the water table declined in the city during the period.
Over the years, state capital’ roads have also been witnessing heavy traffic jams on multiple crossings due to phenomenal increase in number of four- wheel vehicles.
Senior officials privately admit” what has triggered numerous traffic related and construction related serious problems in the city is ever since Uttarakhand was carved out of U. P and was made state capital for which it was not actually meant for”.
However, what has apparently given a sense of relief to the city is Pushkar Singh Dhami Government’ wise decision to begin the process of turning Dehradun into a Smart City.The city’ overall condition had gradually begun to improve during the preparations for Investors Summit held here last year.
Darshan Kunwar ,
Senior Accredited freelance journalist & Political Commentator
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