Dehradun: Delhi’s New Colony in the Making?
DEHRADUN - The city, once-charming Doon, is poised for an extreme makeover, courtesy of the Uttarakhand state government.
Their master plan? Transforming Dehradun into an overcrowded, smog-infested extension of Delhi, complete with all the urban chaos that makes the capital so... special.
Expressway to Disaster
The Double engine government led by PM Narendra Modi, NH and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami believes that much-anticipated expressway will put Delhi and Dehradun on a fast lane, opening the floodgates of new opportunities for Uttarakhand Youth mainly promoting it into a major tourism and wedding destinations.
Meet a Delhiite in Dehradun, he or she will exclaim: We can make it here from Delhi in less than in hassle-free three hours!
But the local NGOs and concerned citizens say the Expressway Highway will open flood gates to a human deluge.
Forget tranquility; Dehradun will soon flaunt its very own traffic snarls and skyscraper-studded skyline.
Anoop Nautiyal, president of the SDC Foundation, doesn’t mince words about the looming crisis.
“On average, 33,000 people die each year due to air pollution in ten major cities. Delhi alone contributes 12,000 deaths to this toll annually,” Nautiyal said.
“If the government is intent on making Dehradun a colony of Delhi, they’re on the right track.”
Air Quality: A Vanishing Luxury
Breathing clean air in Dehradun might soon be a luxury, thanks to the state’s "brilliant strategy."
With air quality declining faster than a lead balloon, the administration seems set on making respiratory problems our new normal.
The city’s carrying capacity? Who cares? Health impacts? No issue!
As Dehradun morphs into a carbon copy of Delhi, residents can eagerly await a future filled with smog and sickness.
A Mini-Delhi in the Making
Picture a future where Dehradun resembles a cramped Delhi suburb, with its own Model Town, Shalimar Bagh, and Dehradun Heights.
The expressway promises to deliver this urban nightmare to Dehradun's doorstep. Five million visitors? Sure. Ten million? Why not? Twenty million? Let’s go for it! Our leaders will proudly announce new records as the city bursts at the seams, quipped Nautiyal.
Government's Green Mirage
In a dazzling display of greenwashing, government officials participate in tree-planting ceremonies during Harela, Van Mahotsav complete with photo ops.
They plant a tree, grin for the cameras, and pat themselves on the back for saving the environment.
Meanwhile, Dehradun’s ecological health continues to nosedive, but who’s counting?
A Tsunami of Time and a Wake-Up Call for Action
Will the voice of Himalayan people matter in this sweep of Time? 
Dehradun citizens have been making tireless efforts to bring government on board- be it the chaotic Char Dham Yatra or plight of Dehradun and its traffic mess or vanishing green cover.
They have been organizing round tables and recommending suggestions to the government to implement to bring order.
Citizens of Dehradun still have courage to stand against the tsunami of time.
They resolved to say that the time for complacency is over. "The future of our city, the quality of our air, and our health hang in the balance".
The government’s half-hearted green gestures won’t cut it.
They need to start addressing environmental issues with genuine concern and turning them into people's movement.
They have given a clear message to the political class of Dehradun: "If you’re with the ruling party, it’s time to speak up within your circles. If you’re in the opposition, make a ruckus".
