Dehradun Residents Allege Rampant Construction Violates High Court Ban on Ravines
Residents of Rajpur in Dehradun have raised serious concerns about unchecked construction activities in the area's natural ravines. They allege these actions directly violate a Uttarakhand high court order issued last year. That order explicitly banned encroachment on ravines and nalas.
Seismic Risks and Ecological Damage Highlighted
The community has also flagged the area's significant seismic vulnerability. They point out that several high-rise buildings have emerged in recent years. More structures are currently under construction. Residents claim this development is happening without adequate on-ground monitoring by authorities.
This issue surfaces amid growing public worry over Dehradun's deteriorating environment. The city faces rising pollution levels, severe traffic congestion, and large-scale tree felling. These factors combine to create a precarious ecological situation.
Residents Question Authority Inaction
Reenu Paul, a resident and environmental activist, voiced strong criticism. "Despite this, when the capital's ecology is already on shaky ground, authorities are failing to check such construction," Paul stated. "Why are construction licences even being issued for parcels in ecologically fragile areas when even sub-divisional magistrate reports have made adverse remarks against them?"
Another resident provided a specific example. They claimed a high-rise project in an adjoining ravine near Pleasant Valley had previously halted work during pending court cases. Now, construction has reportedly resumed and is nearing completion.
"A case was also registered against the project. How have authorities turned such a blind eye?" the resident asked. "In the name of residential projects, acres of land are being stripped of green cover. Nalas are being blocked. The area's natural ecology is being altered. This leads to freak landslides and mudslides that cause severe devastation during the monsoon season."
Official Response and Development Authority Stance
Mussoorie-Dehradun Development Authority vice-chairman Bansidhar Tiwari could not be reached for comment on these allegations. However, a civic authority official offered a response. The official stated that licences are issued only to projects meeting all prescribed norms.
"Encroachments without approval or those involving prohibited land are being removed on a regular basis," the official claimed. This statement contrasts sharply with residents' accounts of ongoing violations and construction in sensitive zones.
The situation highlights a clear conflict between reported ground realities and official assurances. It underscores the urgent need for transparent monitoring and stricter enforcement of environmental regulations in Dehradun's fragile ecosystems.
