By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 19 Dec: A poll on social media handle X, conducted over the past 24 hours by social activist Anoop Nautiyal, indicates significant dissatisfaction among Dehradun residents regarding the city’s development over the past 5-10 years. Out of 512 participants who expressed their opinion on the survey, 79 percent believe the city’s situation has worsened, 14 percent feel it has improved, while 7 percent were undecided or had no opinion.
According to Nautiyal, the public perception indicates decline. He added that the poll results indicate a concerning trend, with eight out of ten respondents expressing dissatisfaction with the development in Dehradun. Despite substantial government expenditure on development schemes and projects, the apparent lack of improvement in urban management has led to public discontent. Speaking to Garhwal Post, Nautiyal claimed that the results stress an urgent need for government agencies to engage more actively with citizens to understand their concerns and expectations. A comprehensive review of urban policies, project implementation, and community involvement is essential.
He added that the upcoming urban local body elections present an opportunity for political parties and mayoral candidates to address these issues. Vision documents reflecting the public’s concerns must go beyond surface-level promises. Time-bound action plans and the establishment of ward sabhas or committees are crucial to ensure governance is rooted in public participation. Urban planning should prioritise localised, community-driven strategies rather than being dictated by centralised power structures.
Nautiyal claimed that the poll also attracted certain comments that appeared to be sponsored, attempting to challenge the authenticity of the findings. However, such remarks failed to address the core issues and do not reflect the public’s dissatisfaction. Rather than deflecting criticism, stakeholders should focus on implementing people-centric and decentralised urban governance models.
Nautiyal felt that the poll underscores a pressing need for genuine dialogue between the government, political representatives, and citizens. Dehradun’s development trajectory can be improved through transparent governance, participatory urban planning, and a commitment to addressing the root causes of public discontent. He asserted that the poll serves as a wake-up call for all stakeholders to prioritise sustainable and inclusive urban development in Uttarakhand’s capital.
