Dehradun/ Almora: The quaint old pahadi villages of Satbunga and Khaprahad, nestled along the Ramgarh-Mukteshwar road, are under siege—not by nature’s wrath but by an unrelenting builder mafia.
Accusations are flying thick and fast, as the villagers blame these outsiders for plundering their precious water sources, chopping down trees, and turning their serene habitat into a commercial haven.
Leading the charge, Pradhan Jivan Gaur has been the voice of the villagers’ anguish, filing complaints with the district collector of Kumaon.
However, despite raising alarms, “Nothing has happened on the ground,” laments Gaur.
“These builders have captured our water sources by building massive storage tanks upstream. The result? Our downstream sources are drying up, leaving us to grapple with a severe drinking water crisis.”
This isn’t just a case of a few rogue contractors.
It’s systemic. The builder mafia, emboldened by corruption and collusion, is allegedly ruling the roost, operating with impunity across the villages of Satbunga, Lodh, and Galla. The rampant illegal mining in the khads and unchecked tree felling has left the villagers questioning the very role of the Uttarakhand administration.
A Call for Justice
Environmentalist and SDC Foundation president Anoop Nautiyal has thrown his weight behind the villagers.
In a hard-hitting video that has since gone viral, Nautiyal laid bare the scale of devastation.
“Locals reached out to me with evidence of how the builder mafia is bulldozing its way through this pristine region".
Trees are being felled indiscriminately, roads are being constructed recklessly, and water sources—the lifeline of these villages—are being sucked dry. This isn’t development; this is destruction.”
Nautiyal pointed a sharp finger at the collusion of local authorities.
The villagers have alleged that these builders are buying silence—whether through intimidation, bribes, or sweet deals. It’s a complete open sesame of corruption.
The Environmental Cost of Luxury
Nautiyal had flagged a message for buyers from Delhi and other metros: “Every time you purchase these luxurious houses in the hills, pause and think—what is the price the environment is paying for your comfort?
Roads, water, forests—they’re all being sacrificed for profit. If you care about the mountains you call your retreat, start asking hard questions of your builders.”
The villagers’ plight isn’t just a local issue; it’s a stark reminder of how unregulated development is pushing fragile ecosystems to the brink.
With allegations piling up and environmental activists stepping in, it remains to be seen whether the Uttarakhand administration will take a stand or let the builder mafia tighten its grip further.
For now, Satbunga and its neighboring villages wait, parched and helpless, as their cries echo unanswered in the corridors of power.
