Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 18 May: The weekly public hearing programme chaired by Dehradun District Magistrate Savin Bansal today once again witnessed a massive turnout of complainants, with the number of grievances crossing the 300-mark at the Auditorium in the Collectorate complex. The public hearing programme has increasingly emerged as a major platform for citizens seeking justice, relief and administrative intervention in matters ranging from land disputes and encroachments to financial distress, education, ration cards, healthcare assistance and civic grievances.
The officials said more than 300 complaints and public issues related to land demarcation, illegal occupation, compensation disputes, electricity, drinking water supply, ration cards and financial assistance were placed before the District Magistrate during the hearing. Taking note of the complaints, Savin Bansal directed the officials from various departments to ensure time-bound, transparent and effective disposal of cases.
Several emotionally charged and socially sensitive matters also were seen during the hearing. One of the most striking cases involved a senior citizen, Suresh Kumar, a resident of Shivpuri in Premnagar, who alleged that his son and daughter-in-law have thrown him out of the house and are continuously threatening him. Treating the matter with urgency and sensitivity, the DM directed the officials to initiate proceedings under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act and ordered prompt legal action.
Another elderly citizen, Kamal Nayan Bhutani, complained that his brothers had illegally occupied his property. The DM instructed the District Government Counsel (Civil) to conduct a detailed inquiry into the matter. Such cases, the officials observed, reflected the growing number of family and property disputes increasingly reaching district administrations for intervention.
A financially distressed woman from Sabhawala village, Shivani, informed the administration that she had purchased machinery under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme through a bank loan but had not received the subsidy component. She said mounting losses and economic hardship have left her unable to repay the loan and that she had now received a notice of property attachment from the tehsil administration. Taking serious cognisance of the matter, the DM directed concerned officials to examine the issue and provide appropriate relief.
An unusual but significant ration card-related grievance also surfaced during the public hearing. Mamta Rani, a divorced woman, stated that her ration card application is being repeatedly rejected due to the absence of land documents and electricity bills. The DM expressed displeasure over the delay and directed the District Supply Officer (DSO) to submit a detailed report within two days.
The hearing also brought allegations against a private educational institution into focus. Five parents from the Dalanwala area accused Sanskar Public School of harassing students, demanding lump sum payment of old fees and refusing to issue transfer certificates. Taking a strict view of the allegations, Bansal directed the Chief Education Officer (CEO) to conduct an immediate inquiry and initiate necessary action.
In another case, a widow, Samun Pal, informed the administration that after the death of her husband she is unable to repay the remaining instalments of an e-rickshaw loan. The DM instructed the officials to prepare a proposal for financial assistance through the Rifle Club fund. Similar pleas for financial help were also made by several widows and economically weaker residents seeking support for medical treatment, children’s education and fee waivers.
Shamshad, a resident of Deepak Colony, requested assistance for treatment of his paralysed leg, while a widow, Asha Devi, sought financial help for treatment after suffering from paralysis. Widows Kamla Gandhi from MDDA Colony and Purnima Devi from Bullawala requested support for their daughters’ education and fee exemption. The District Magistrate directed such applicants to submit proposals under the Nanda-Sunanda and Rifle Club assistance schemes, which are often utilised by the district administration for urgent humanitarian relief.
The public hearing also witnessed infrastructure and civic concerns from rural and urban areas alike. The farmers from Fatehpur Grant complained that illegal encroachment and wall construction over an irrigation canal is disrupting water supply for agricultural activities. Bansal directed the Executive Engineer of the Irrigation Department to take action and submit a report by 23 May.
Residents of Himjyoti Enclave alleged that an illegally operated dairy unit functioning in the area for the past four years had led to unhygienic conditions and foul surroundings. The Municipal Corporation was instructed to take immediate action. In respect of Gram Panchayat Listerabad Grant, the villagers complained that door-to-door garbage collection has not started due to the absence of a waste collection vehicle. The CDO was directed to arrange a garbage vehicle through CSR funding.
There were also claims and complaints regarding land record discrepancies in Gadog Sakrol village under Kalsi tehsil. The villagers complained that they are unable to obtain caste and domicile certificates because of inconsistencies in the official records. The DM instructed the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Kalsi to submit a report by 25 May. Complaints regarding a damaged pedestrian bridge in Kandoi Bharam village of Chakrata block were made and action ordered by the DM.
Village pradhans from Shyampur Nyaya Panchayat complained that repeated transfers of the Gram Panchayat Officer are affecting developmental works in the region. Meanwhile, Sanjay Kumar Barmola from Kargi Grant alleged that the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority has failed to comply with the orders of the Garhwal Commissioner and MDDA Chairman. The DM directed MDDA officials to furnish an action taken report at the earliest.
Senior citizen Neeta Kukreti sought demarcation of her land in Mohkampur Kalan, while several compensation-related cases linked to land acquired for National Highway projects also reached the public hearing. The Special Land Acquisition Officer was instructed to submit reports within a week in such cases. The residents also demanded restoration of public transport services from Dilaram Bazaar to Nalapani Chowk on DL Road and sought revival of the city bus service that had been operating earlier. The DM directed the Regional Transport Officer (RTO) to submit an immediate report on the matter.
The officials present during the public hearing programme included ADM KK Mishra, Additional Municipal Commissioner Praveen Kumar, SDMs Smrita Parmar, Apoorva Singh, Kumkum Joshi and Aparna Dhaudiyal, Project Director Vikram Singh, District Development Officer Sunil Kumar, Chief Education Officer V K Dhaudiyal and district-level officers from various departments.
