PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
Dehradun Citizens Forum (DCF) has written a letter to the President of India to keep Rashtrapati Ashiana in Dehradun free from concrete.The letter of the DCF to the President Droupadi Murmu bears the signatures of more than 60 individuals.
In the letter, the signatories have requested that the proposed Rashtrapati Ashiana be developed without cutting any trees and that it be kept free from cement and concrete construction. The letter also appeals to the President for the creation of bird and butterfly parks within the premises.
The authorities had recently decided to open the Rashtrapati Ashiana covering an area of 132 acres to the general public. Terming the decision as a commendable measure, the DCF said that it would offer citizens the opportunity to enjoy lush green spaces. However, it strongly emphasises on the need to preserve the park’s natural greenery and ecological balance during the renovation process.
In its letter to the President, the forum points out that in recent years, Dehradun’s natural beauty has been significantly disrupted due to road construction, housing and other infrastructure projects. Given Dehradun’s unique geography and ecological fragility, the region cannot sustain large-scale concretisation. Unscientific and unplanned urban development has led to extensive concretisation, resulting in a consistent drop in groundwater levels and rising temperatures in Dehradun.
The letter urges the President to ensure that no trees are harmed under any circumstances during the park’s re-development. Any such harm would worsen the environmental imbalance that Dehradun is already grappling with.
The DCF recommends that the park’s new design be centred around nature. Existing natural trails should be retained, and the renovation should enhance them rather than replace them. The park should serve as a legacy for future generations, with a strong focus on bird and butterfly conservation.
Citing the example of the successful and popular Jabarkhet Estate in Mussoorie, the DCF letter recommends that similar efforts be made to keep this proposed park completely free of concrete and cement. The forum also appreciated the initiative by Rashtrapati Bhawan to seek public feedback on the park’s development and expressed hope that the President’s office would seriously consider the suggestions put forth by the Dehradun Citizens Forum.
The letter has been signed by forum members Anish Lal, Anoop Nautiyal, Anup Badola, Bharti Jain, Jagmohan Mehdiratta, Lokesh Ohri, Radha Chatterjee, Retu Chatterjee and many prominent citizens of Dehradun.
