Riverbeds turning into shanties
Jotirmay Thapliyal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 28
Riverbeds of Dehradun’s seasonal rivers and rivulets are most vulnerable to encroachments. It is estimated that nearly 35 per cent of the Dehradun population lives on the banks and riverbeds of illegal colonies constructed in the last four decades.

There have been instances when the gushing waters have washed away some of these encroachments during the monsoons.

Almost each and every seasonal river, drain and even degraded land today stands encroached in one form or the other.The most affected are two major seasonal rivers that circumvent Dehradun city - Rispana and Bindal.

Both rivers are the lifeline of Dehradun during the monsoons as they are the only outlets for the rainwater inside the city, thus preventing the city from a deluge.

But these rivers have fasted turned into slums and shanty colonies.

While there are 10,000 encroachments at Rispana, around 6,000 encroachments are alongside Bindal.The banks of these two rivers all along the city today stands encroached and the administration finds itself helpless in removing these encroachments.

Interestingly, while encroachments have come up in the form of permanent structures, the level of lawlessness has gone to an extent that some of public conveyance operators are now utilising riverbeds as places for parkings.

Truckers that operate between Dehradun and other hill districts can be seen lined up on the Rispana river, down the Vidhan Sabha Rispana bridge.This is despite the fact that some vehicles were damaged by the gushing waters last monsoon.

The then Chief Minister N.D.Tiwari had ambitious plans for beautification along these rivers. But the plans fell apart with the change of ruling dispensation at the Centre.

The Dehradun municipal authorities have advocated removing encroachments alongside the rivers and had even conducted concentrated campaigns. But, its anti-encroachment drives alongside these rivers have often met with stiff resistance from encroachers.

Recently, the corporation officials had to scurry for cover in the wake of heavy brickbatting by the encroachers. “There can be no compromise on encroachments and we will continue with our policy to deal with a stern hand any encroachment within the city,” chief executive officer Sushil Kumar observed.

Senior councillor and leader of the opposition in the Dehradun Municipal Corporation Ashok Verma admitted that encroachments were a big problem and called for effective measures to curtail these. He suggested sterner measures to take on the encroachers in the city, particularly those on riverbeds.

Significantly, the Dehradun Master Plan-2025 calls for developing these rivers banks as green belts to enhance the beauty of the city.

Interestingly, the Dehradun Mayor at a recent board meeting had to ask the councillors to keep away from patronising encroachers in their respective wards.

Another councillor Vijay Pratap said encroachments posed a challenge to the city. “I myself have raised issues linked to encroachments but my efforts have yielded little result and certainly something needs to be done urgently in this regard,” observed Vijay Pratap.

But then the MC finds itself helpless in dealing with these encroachments and despite campaigns these have only increased in numbers.

These mushrooming encroachments are a law and order problem. With little record of the ecroachers with the district administration, the settlements on encroachments often become a safe haven for anti-social elements. 

VP Singh’s abiding love for Doon
Jotirmay Thapliyal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 28
The passing away of former Prime Minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh has come as a rude shock for Doonites, the city that always considered him as one of its own. From his early schooling to the twilight of his political career, Dehradun figured prominently in the life of the former PM.

V.P. Singh spent five years of his schooling at Col Brown School, Dalanwala. As a ten-year-old lad, he studied from classes four to eight here, and it was only in 1948 that he left school due to security reasons and was taken to Allahabad. Being an adopted son, security for Vishwanath Pratap Singh was of primary concern for the Raja of Manda.

In his later visits, he never forgot to continue with his Dehradun connections. Since he was in touch with the school alumni, many of his painting exhibitions were organised by some of the school’s ex-students.

It was not just schooling that made Dehradun VP Singh’s home, the family still owns prime property on the main Rajpur road. V.P. Singh’s father Raja of Manda had 25 bighas of land on lease on Rajpur road, opposite the Gandhi Park.

Out of this, 15 bighas is still in the former Prime Minister’s possession. The Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority had recently directed for acquisition of 3,000 metres, while the rest is on freehold.

“V.P. Singh frequented Dehradun very often and never forgot to meet his acquaintances here,” said Kamal Agarwal, who has a business concern at Rajpur road, which was once part of V.P. Singh property. He was one among the first to welcome the former PM, whenever the latter visited the city.

Even as Jan Morcha leader, V.P. Singh continued to have a say in the politics of Uttarakhand. After formation of the state, he had paid regular visits here.

However, his decision to implement Mandal Commission report meant to extend job reservation for Other Backward Castes did not go down well with people of this region. Albeit Doonites opposed reservation tooth-and-nail, this did not lessen V.P. Singh’s love for the city. 

Where Heena recites Gayatri Mantra
Umesh Dewan
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 28
While communal tinderbox is a major issue of concern today, a school in Dehradun is dedicated to spreading the message of communal harmony. Located on Raja Marg in Dehradun, the Sanatan Dharam Senior Secondary School for Girls has made a special place for itself by taking initiative to inculcate respect and love for different religions among the students.

The school has adopted a unique way to achieve the aim of promoting secular feelings among school students, asking them to recite passages from the Holy Quran as well as chant the Gayatri Mantra and Hanuman Chalisa during the morning assembly.

The school has done such exceptional work that it has earned the distinction of being a trendsetter in furthering communal harmony.

Set up as a primary school in 1955, the school has progressed in leaps and bounds. With a strength of 450 students, today the school runs classes up to Class XII.

“On Tuesday, the students chant Hanuman Chalisa along with daily prayers, including Saraswati Vandana, Gayatri Mantra, hymns from the Quran and the national anthem,” says school principal Rani Pushpa Aggarwal.

The students are only too glad to be part of such a secular environment, says the school principal.

“I feel really good when I chant the Gayatri Mantra and take part in Gita recitation competitions. The credit goes to my teachers, who have taught us all these things,” says Heena Mallik, one of the five students who have learnt Hanuman Chalisa and Gayatri Mantra and recite these at the morning assembly.

Notably, 50 per cent of the students are Muslims. Aggarwal says they teach students about all religions, adding that the students are also permitted to perform their own religious prayers.

“The response has been very good and it is beyond understanding why people fight over religion,” says Aggarwal.