ANOOP NAUTIYAL
While the 2041 MDDA Draft Master Plan of Dehradun tells us on Page 109 that there is an additional housing requirement of 4,37,359 units based on the proposed population in 2041 there is no justification of how this will impact the future course of the city of Dehradun. Just to set the context right, the draft Master Plan also tells us that the actual housing stock available for the existing population is 1,25,611. In other words, there is a need to build another 3.5 times more than what we have today in the next 18 to 20 years.
Why do we need some deeper thinking and some justification in the Dehradun draft master plan? The document warns us on Page 58 by categorically mentioning that the problem of insufficient public transportation, limited parking spaces and massive increases in traffic jams are multifaceted and pose enormous challenges on many levels, which are only going to get worse in the future. This has a negative impact on city’s development and growth. It further goes on to say in Page 65 that this unprecedented growth of the urban area has caused chaos, traffic congestion, overcrowding and mass encroachments on the city’s drainage system. Page 133 also warns and says that since Dehradun falls in Zone 4 and Zone 5, therefore there should be no development within 50 Meters from the centerline of the fault line (total buffer area should be 100 metres)
Perhaps the final Master Plan or some other plan or paper in the future will throw light and connect the dots. However, as a concerned citizen I would have appreciated a more focussed and detailed explanation, an overarching overview and a far more inspiring vision for the city from our political leadership, our urban planners and MDDA. While robust data is always laudable, it is equally important to connect the dots and articulate a clear statement and a clearer plan with all stakeholders.
If you feel that the above seems logical and is a matter of concern, I would like to kindly request you to write to MDDA and ask them to host a series of stakeholder dialogues across the city of Dehradun. They would also then need to extend their deadline for public feedback which as of today stands on April 30, 2023. At our end, we will be sharing our submission soon and ask for a two or three month extension for genuine public engagement and stakeholder consultations.
Lastly, I am sharing the MDDA advertisement that had appeared on April 1, 2023 which tells us the process of how we need to submit our comments and suggestions. Needless to say that for today’s age and world, there should have been an email id to communicate. Nonethless we have been left with no other option but to write letters and submit them physically as mentioned in the above advertisement.
