Experts seek stakeholders’ say in development projects, separate policies for mountainous and plain regions
PIONEER NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
At a time when rapid urbanisation is reshaping the Himalayan foothills, experts called for urgent course correction in the way development is being planned in Uttarakhand. They also sought separate policies for mountainous and plain regions. They stated this in ‘Progress With Purpose, Growth With Green’, a dialogue on Balancing Development and Environmental Conservation organised by The Pioneer here on Wednesday.
Some speakers at the event raised concerns about the ongoing model of development in Uttarakhand, calling for more inclusive and environmentally responsible planning. Anthropologist and founder of Humanities Himalaya, Lokesh Ohri criticised the lack of local involvement in major infrastructural projects in Dehradun, like the proposed Rispana-Bindal elevated road.
He pointed out that township planning often includes builders but excludes architects and local residents, even though they and their future generations will live with the outcomes. He also claimed that only eight to 10 per cent people in Dehradun own cars but the entire city planning is done keeping them in mind, not those who walk, cycle or use public transport. Ohri also talked about a growing public sentiment for preserving native flora over ornamental plants, adding that many now say they do not want park or gardens filled with foreign flowers in the name of greenery but rather forested areas.
Emphasising the need for proper urban planning, he warned that if present issues go unaddressed, they will worsen over time. Ohri also highlighted the impact of climate change through a personal anecdote. He said, “I met a man in Munsyari who told me he was moving to colder regions because his sheep needed a cooler climate to survive. He knew something was wrong, he even used the term ‘climate change’. He told me that they now discard wool from their sheep in forests. It is obviously because now people prefer synthetic fabrics marketed by big brands instead of woolens.” Ohri also urged authorities to make tree conservation a priority.
Referring to a recent incident in Dehradun where a tree fell on a vehicle killing a man, he acknowledged the difficulty in balancing between safety and conservation, but appealed to officials to save aging trees wherever possible. The founder of the Social Development for Communities (SDC) Foundation, Anoop Nautiyal echoed similar concerns. He said that since the formation of Uttarakhand in 2000, the State has witnessed the highest rate of forest land diversion among all Himalayan States for non-forest purposes such as road construction, mining, irrigation and other development projects.
He stated that compared to neighbouring States, Uttarakhand has transferred more forest land, raising serious environmental concerns. Nautiyal also spoke about the demographic shift from the mountains to the plains, warning that this trend is affecting political representation and long-term sustainability. “Five assembly elections have been held so far in Uttarakhand and with each one, the number of mountain constituencies has decreased while urban ones have increased. This consistent loss of mountain voters is alarming,” he said.
Highlighting the population boom in Dehradun, he pointed out that when the State was formed, the city had a population of around three to four lakh. “Now, it may be 14, 15 or even 16 lakh and the worrying part is, no one knows the exact figure,” Nautiyal said. He urged the State government to develop separate policies for the plains and mountainous regions, arguing that their needs are vastly different. Nautiyal warned that Uttarakhand’s declining environmental health is a ticking time bomb and stressed the urgency of regulatory action.
