Monday, 03 April 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Concerned citizens from various public groups and individuals protested under the banner of Citizens For Green Doon (CFGD) against the planned conversion of the wooded area at Tarla Nagal area into a city park. The Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) is undertaking the city forest project at a cost of about Rs 37 crore.
Members of CFGD stated that they have been undertaking tree plantation drives at Tarla Nagal since 2017. The village elders of Tarla Nagal have also been planting tree saplings over the years in the once deemed forest area. Birders have spotted quite a variety of birds which inhabit the space. The wooded area is home to deer, wild boars, butterflies and insects. The protesters further pointed out that much of the area of the project site forms the riverbed of river Nalapani Ki Rau. The IT Park main road which changes into a gushing river during heavy rains and is rendered useless for traffic is the riverbed of the same river, they said. With the announcement of the project, work has started on clearing the undergrowth and shrubs.
The protesters questioned why an already green area rich in flora and fauna should be chosen as a site for a park. Greening of barren land for a park is understandable and welcome but such action is beyond logic. They also questioned why the government plans to encroach on a riverbed and break the flow of a river in times when paucity of water is a major problem. “Why must a huge sum be spent on ‘beautifying’ an already scenic green area while many ugly, ignored, dirty spaces need attending to all over the city? Citizens have protested over the years against the idea of a park in Tarla Nagal. Why is the voice of the citizens not being heard? Do the citizens have no say in how their tax money is spent and how their surroundings are developed given that they are the most affected by the changes? The AQI of Dehradun is already in dangerous limits. Should we then protect and promote green oxygen giving spaces or destroy them as in this case?” questioned the protesters.
They further pointed out that concretising a green space in the name of protecting it from encroachment is a cruel joke. The need of the hour is an untouched biodiversity rich green area, not another library and a skating rink or an open air theatre. These facilities have nothing to do with greenery and common sense dictates that such projects should be constructed on fallow land or on land which irresponsible citizens dump garbage.
