The Patron of Hamara Uttarakhand Manch (HUM) Anoop Nautiyal has requested President Pranab Mukherjee to cancel the idea of construction of a helipad at ‘Aashiyana’ presidential estate in Dehradun. In a letter to the President, Nautiyal said that it is learnt that the President’s Secretariat has sanctioned the construction of a helipad with capacity of landing and takeoff for three MI-17 helicopters. He said that construction of the helipad will involve the chopping of a large number of trees and forest area as well as relocate people living in the periphery of "Ashiana".
“As you may be aware "Ashiyana" has a glorious past and all efforts should be ensured to not only preserve but also enhance its natural and aesthetic appeal. The city of Dehradun has environmentally, ecologically and aesthetically been ravaged repeatedly by tasteless construction. There have been several, natural consequences of this model of urban development. Air quality in Dehradun has deteriorated significantly.
The carrying capacity of the eco sensitive, seismically vulnerable Doon Valley is bursting at its seams.
I urge and request you to kindly instruct your Secretariat to completely abandon the idea of building the helipad in "Ashiana". There are already two helipads in Sahastradhara and Cantt area which are barely 5-10 kilometres from "Ashiana". On top of this the Presidential visits to Dehradun are extremely rare,’’ the letter said.
The HUM leader who is a former state President of Aam Aadami party hoped that by abandoning the idea of helipad a strong message of environmental conservation and augmentation would emanate.
“This will be a green gift not only for Dehradun and Uttarakhand but for the entire country,’’ he further added.