By Alok Joshi
As a native Uttarakhandi, who returned to his roots after decades of globe-trotting, I have witnessed my Dehradun change dramatically. Unfortunately, the change is not much to be proud of. The city is a living example of unplanned development, corruption, steep decline in moral values, the mindless money-chase and an upsurge of self-centred mindset in the social fabric.
Those who find the above statement unfair and harsh will argue that this is a universal phenomenon. Perhaps they are right. But I’m more concerned about my state, my city. Call me regional or whatever. It does not bother me.
Where do I begin?
Dehradun of the ‘80s and ‘90s was different. Now we have more people than the resources to sustain a good balance. Apparently the policy makers have not given much thought to this. Even if they have deliberated about this, they have not done much. Our plans and policies have been largely ad-hoc and short-term. The big picture of the city has been missing from the attention-radar of those in authority.
Ever since Uttarakhand became a state in the year 2000 and Dehradun its capital, everyone hoped for more development with a dose of greater autonomy and liberal funds. But efforts have fallen short of expectations.
The natural beauty and environment has been ravaged by indiscriminate construction in the name of development. Corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and builders have filled their coffers. Trees have been mercilessly ravaged to make way for new construction. We need to stop all this ecological destruction. I wish tourists throng to Dehradun for its serene beauty and greenery and not just for Mussoorie.
TOI carried the news “Dehradun rings in the New Year with ‘very poor’ air quality, AQI hits 316”. The authorities concerned attributed this to increased vehicular movement. Was this not anticipated? That we are better than Delhi is a safe alibi.
Even on normal days, there are more vehicles on the roads than people. We have become a scooty/ motorbike city. We don’t have enough traffic police to manage congested areas. Or is this because many of them have to be deployed on VIP duties?
The name of Clock Tower or Paltan Bazaar brings shivers in the minds of locals who are afraid of crowds. As soon as one enters the place, hundreds of vendors, selling anything from potions for killing rats to pyjama strings, swarm around you. Then there are families riding scooters and honking their way to glory. I wish somebody could provide a smooth shopping experience inside Paltan Bazaar, which has amazing shops.
I read somewhere that Rs 8.2 crores was earmarked for the pedestrianisation of Paltan Bazaar and Rs 4.8 crores for facade work. Shopkeepers complain that the revamping of the market and making it a tourist attraction has remained just a tall claim. Forget about revamping, the utter chaos remains unmanaged. To be honest, I have seen police officers doing random rounds of the market sometimes. The roadside vendors vanish in the lanes momentarily and then re-emerge, making it difficult for pedestrians to walk. It would be fair to provide a designated area somewhere nearby to enable these vendors to continue earning their livelihood. I wish it can be a “no-vehicle entry” market as a permanent solution.
Let 2026 have just one Mission for Dehradun. Regulate traffic. A huge challenge awaits. Once the Delhi-Dehradun expressway becomes fully operational, traffic is bound to become more chaotic with increased tourist vehicles. Some smart cop should be given this task of traffic management with all the required freedom (to function), adequate funds and manpower resources. If this is achieved, the image of Dehradun (already tarnished with Ankita Bhandari and Angel Chakma cases) will change for the better. Common people will be happy. And if there are two smart cops, let the second one handle the Paltan Bazaar mess.
No growing city can afford to ignore cleanliness. I wish the residential societies, shopping complexes and other densely populated areas should also be held responsible. Sadly we have become a dumb and insensitive society. We prefer to mind our own business. As long as the front of our house/ flat is clean, we care two hoots for the garbage in surrounding areas.
This is not to discredit the good work done by various governments. I do find better roads in recent years. I do find creative ideas implemented to reduce congestion in crowded areas. I do find some uniformity in sign-boards of shops. It is encouraging to see attempts to preserve the literary and cultural heritage in the city capital. I wish we had more dynamic people like the present DM Savin Bansal (whom I have never met) because the task is monumental, the challenges are big.
We cannot, however, put all the blame on the government. Preserving the pristine beauty of our city is a joint responsibility of the authorities and citizens. No amount of effort and money spent by the government can show results without the cooperation of people as a mass movement. Local citizens have to become more vigilant, not only of their rights but also duties.
We have adopted villages in Uttarakhand. But who will adopt Dehradun?
Happy New Year!
Alok Joshi is a Dehradun-based Management Advisor, Corporate Trainer, Image Consultant, Motivational Speaker, Author of three books and a freelance writer. He has worked in high positions in many companies across many countries.
