(In First Person): DEHDRADUN: Intrigued and curious for quite a while, I asked friends and others on WhatsApp and various other social media platforms on what they thought or felt was the current population of the city of Dehradun.

I was flooded with responses that largely ranged from 8.0 Lakhs to 20.0 Lakhs. I had also promised that I will try to do some fact finding and come up with some estimates myself.

Based on what I looked at and making some further assumptions, I believe that the current population of the city of Dehradun is in the range of 11.5 Lakhs to 12.0 Lakhs (1.15 Million to 1.20 Million).

Kindly allow me to share with you in brief the three key data sets that were referred to in the quest for this answer.

*1.* Dehradun District 2011 Census : This is a massive, bulky document with many insights on the district and its cities, towns, cantonment boards and rural areas. The population of the district of Dehradun as per the 2011 Census is 16,96,694.

*2.* Dehradun Municipal Corporation Election in November 2018 : The election was held after the completion of the delimitation exercise in the city of Dehradun. It is important to highlight that the Dehradun city area in 2011 comprised 60 wards spread across an area of 65 Square Kilometres.

Post-delimitation when the neighbouring rural areas were merged administratively and politically, the city area of Dehradun increased by three times and now comprises 100 wards spread across 195 Square Kilometres.

There were 6,28,674 voters in the last municipal election of 2018 that was held across 100 wards in the city of Dehradun. 

*3.* Comparison of January 2012 and February 2022 Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha electoral data : Of the ten assembly constituencies in the district of Dehradun; the assemblies of Dharampur, Dehradun Cantt, Mussoorie, Rajpur Road and Raipur have traditionally been considered as "city" seats.

The voter increase in the past decade from 2012 to 2022 is a telling and stark reminder of the massive increases that have happened in the population of these areas.  

Here is a brief: 

*1.* In the 2011 census; the rural, adjoining areas are not included in the population of the city of Dehradun.  For instance; Raipur, Natthan Pur, Mehu Wala Mafi and Natthuwa Wala population was over and above the population of Dehradun Municipal Corporation plus Out Growth which then stood at 5,74,840.

Since the census is an extremely detailed exercise, data is captured in a granular manner and urban areas are defined as municipal corporations, municipal boards, statutory towns, census towns, urban agglomerations, urban outgrowths etc.

*2.* It is equally important to highlight that the population of Cantonment Boards of Dehradun Cantt and Clement Town are taken separately as per the census methodology and are not included in the Dehradun Municipal Corporation 2011 figures, while from all practical standpoints these areas are in the broader city limits and the vast majority of its residents form an integral part of the landscape of the city of Dehradun.

For instance, the bustling and heavily populated area of Prem Nagar just ahead of the Indian Military Academy (IMA) is a part of the Dehradun Cantonment Board and not in the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun. 

*3.* The decadal growth in the district of Dehradun was 32.3% during the 2001-2011 census period and 41% during the 2012-2022 Vidhan Sabha electoral period.

Compared to the 16,96,694 population in 2011, the population of the district of Dehradun was 12,82,143 in 2001.

Based on all above, and some more, I believe that the current population of the city of Dehradun in March 2023 is 11.5 to 12.0 Lakhs (1.15 Million to 1.20 Million).

However, one must be extremely humble to acknowledge that at best these are estimates that are based on assumptions and are prone to errors.

We can only have a clear and accurate picture once the census is completed. There is an acute need for accurate data at all levels for robust policy making and efficient delivery of public services.

Hope we will have the right answers and insights in times to come:

(By Anoop Nautiyal, President, SDC, Foundation Dehradun.  His views are personal)