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Urbanisation robbing Dehradun of its charm!
Unplanned urbanisation has created a situation in Dehradun wherein the city experiences waterlogging during the monsoon, but experiences water shortage during other seasons. Though there are regulations to ensure that environmental aspects are adhered to during execution of development works, these are not enforced effectively.
Experts point out that if such anomalies are not rectified soon, Dehradun will not only face water crisis in the coming decade, but also lose its charm for tourists.
A study conducted by the Uttarakhand Space Application Centre (USAC) and the Indian Space Research Organisation in the past has showed that unplanned urbanisation has had a detrimental effect on cities and water resources. According to USAC director MM Kimothi, Dehradun is a tourist destination due to its environmental characteristics.
However, unplanned urbanisation threatens to damage these features. The natural depressions which used to act as reservoirs of rainwater have been filled to construct buildings which has disrupted the natural water drainage system, causing major waterlogging in the monsoon.
“There are regulations for ensuring proper land use, but these are not being strictly enforced. There is a lack of a concrete plan for preserving the environmental features of Dehradun. There is a need for a vision for Dehradun which envisages what the city should be developed into 20 years from now. If unplanned urbanisation is allowed to continue, the condition of Dehradun will be undesirable after two decades,” he said.
The Space Application Centre director stressed on the need for planned urbanisation as seen in cities like the capital of Gujarat, Gandhinagar and Chandigarh.
Unplanned urbanisation has created a situation in Dehradun wherein the city experiences waterlogging during the monsoon, but experiences water shortage during other seasons. Though there are regulations to ensure that environmental aspects are adhered to during execution of development works, these are not enforced effectively.
Experts point out that if such anomalies are not rectified soon, Dehradun will not only face water crisis in the coming decade, but also lose its charm for tourists.
A study conducted by the Uttarakhand Space Application Centre (USAC) and the Indian Space Research Organisation in the past has showed that unplanned urbanisation has had a detrimental effect on cities and water resources. According to USAC director MM Kimothi, Dehradun is a tourist destination due to its environmental characteristics.
However, unplanned urbanisation threatens to damage these features. The natural depressions which used to act as reservoirs of rainwater have been filled to construct buildings which has disrupted the natural water drainage system, causing major waterlogging in the monsoon.
“There are regulations for ensuring proper land use, but these are not being strictly enforced. There is a lack of a concrete plan for preserving the environmental features of Dehradun. There is a need for a vision for Dehradun which envisages what the city should be developed into 20 years from now. If unplanned urbanisation is allowed to continue, the condition of Dehradun will be undesirable after two decades,” he said.
The Space Application Centre director stressed on the need for planned urbanisation as seen in cities like the capital of Gujarat, Gandhinagar and Chandigarh.
