Positive Response from Political Parties on Dehradun Citizens Forum Green Agenda

ANOOP NAUTIYAL

Dehradun

The Dehradun Citizens Forum (DCF) has started actively distributing its Green Agenda for the upcoming Urban Local Body elections in Uttarakhand. So far, the draft of the agenda has been presented to BJP, Congress, and UKD.

According to the Dehradun Citizens Forum, the political parties have shown a positive attitude towards the Green Agenda. Several parties have assured that they will include most of the issues in their manifestos. Additionally, they have expressed a commitment to continue the citizen centric dialogue on the green urban issues after the civic elections.

On January 6, during a press conference held at the Press Club in Dehradun, DCF released an 18-point Green Agenda on behalf of the common citizens.

The Green Agenda primarily includes demands such as the creation and regular monitoring of the Uttarakhand Urban Vision 2025 manifesto, the creation of manifestos for the 11 municipal corporations in state, regular training of elected representatives, formulating city centric climate action plans, establishing ward committees, ensuring public participation in urban planning and implementation, preparing local plans, proper waste management, preparing a solid action plan to address climate change challenges, and better managing the existing traffic, parking, and public transport arrangements.

In the press conference, DCF had emphasized that the draft of the Green Agenda would be shared with all political parties, social and business organizations, and other stakeholders to initiate a positive discussion in the city, allowing elected candidates to work on the agenda in their respective urban bodies. So far, the draft has been shared with three political parties: BJP, Congress, and UKD.

Members of the Dehradun Citizens Forum met with BJP State Secretary Aditya Kothari and Dr. Devendra Bhasin at the BJP State Office to hand over the Green Agenda draft. Similarly, they met Congress State President Karan Mahra, Dehradun mayor candidate Virendra Pokhriyal, and senior leader Abhinav Thapar, among others, to present the agenda. The draft was also handed over to the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal’s Secretary Office, Devchand Uttarakhandi. The DCF team members who met the party officials included Jagmohan Mehdiratta, Florence Pandhi, Dr. Vimal Nautiyal, Sunil Nehru, Monty Kohli, Anoop Nautiyal, Anup Badola, and Sandeep Bijlwan.

After meeting the party officials, DCF members stated that all the parties have adopted a positive approach towards the Green Agenda and have committed to maintaining continuous dialogue on these issues, not just during the elections but also after them. According to DCF, a separate Green Agenda draft is being prepared for Dehradun’s mayoral candidates, which will soon be shared with them as well. The DCF aims to create an environment in the city where not only the mayor and councilor candidates but also ordinary citizens can understand how urban development can be sustainable and environmentally friendly.