Protest in Dehradun against elevated road project after recent deadly floods

A protest was held in Uttarakhand’s Dehradun on Sunday against the proposed Rispana-Bindal Elevated Corridor Project, with several stakeholders saying that it would destroy rivers and displace thousands of residents, The Indian Express reported.

The protest came a week after at least 29 persons were killed and eight reported missing following heavy rainfall that triggered flooding and landslides in the district.

The Rs 6,200-crore road project covering about 26 km is planned over the riverbeds of Dehradun’s two main rivers, Rispana and Bindal. It comprises two roads that are expected to reduce traffic congestion in the city and help tourists reach Mussoorie faster.

The project puts more than 2,600 structures at risk of displacement from the land to be acquired, The Indian Express cited government data as stating.

The plan has also raised concerns about flow channels pushing floodwaters onto the banks, and the potential jeopardy to aquifers if embankments, pillars and flood walls are built along the two rivers.

On Sunday, hundreds of residents, along with activists, environmentalists and other stakeholders, held a protest march against the proposed project, The Times of India reported. They marched from Gandhi Park to Lansdowne Chowk, where the police stopped them.

The protesters were allowed to end their march at Kanak Chowk, where a memorandum of demands was handed over to the city magistrate.

During the protest, several speakers, including environmentalist Ravi Chopra, claimed that the project would destroy the Rispana and Bindal rivers, displace tens of thousands of residents and increase urban heat, The Indian Express reported.

It would also worsen the drinking water shortage, increase pollution and cause serious damage to the environment in the area.

The Times of India quoted Abhijay Negi, an environmental activist and advocate, as saying that the two riverbeds were dug up about 10 years ago to lay down sewer lines.

“When the debris came down the river during the recent downpour, those sewer grates surfaced again and the sewage flooded people’s homes,” the newspaper quoted Negi as saying. “It was shocking.”

The activist said that the two rivers had been disturbed at all levels. “Not just underground but also at the surface by dumping waste in it, and now, there is this plan of disturbing the river overhead as well,” he added.

Chopra, the founder of the non-governmental organisation Peoples’ Science Institute, asked how many more lives had to be lost before the authorities realise that this was not the kind of development Dehradun needed, The Times of India reported.

“This project will generate lakhs of tonnes of debris from the riverbed,” the newspaper quoted Chopra as saying. “Where will it all go? And what about the noise and air pollution that will choke us.”

Shankar Gopal, a member of the civic organisation Chetna Andolan, said that the recent rain-related incidents should show how vulnerable the city was, The Indian Express reported.

“Had these roads been in place, the presence of massive amounts of rubble and pillars in the river beds would have made the flood damage many times worse,” Gopal was quoted as saying.

Protesters also noted that the proposed project threatens to wipe out more than 2,500 trees.

They demanded that the project be scrapped, a survey be conducted of the disaster-affected persons, relief and compensation be provided to those impacted, and Rispana and Bindal rivers be rejuvenated.

Instead of spending a large amount of money on the project, the public transport system in the city should be improved by introducing at least 500 new buses, and travel be made free for women, students and senior citizens, the protesters said.

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