Exploiting religion to encroach on public land has become a growing trend in Dehradun. There is a rise in the instances wherein some people built a small shrine to encroach on government land in different areas of the city while the authorities generally turn a blind eye.
Generally, people either place a deity’s idol or photo alongside the main road or fence trees (especially peepal) growing on government land to make it a ‘religious’ place for people to gather. An auto rickshaw driver Ram Bhagat stated, “Due to the construction of roadside temples and dargahs we have to bear daily traffic jams in different areas. A lot of people park their vehicles on the main road itself because of which we have to face difficulty. The police do not question the violators but ask us to change our route. Why should we travel extra kilometersIJ”
Citizens for Green Doon, chief coordinator Dr Nitin Pandey highlighted how people have encroached on the Anarwala forest and built a temple there which is a threat to the environment. “One can understand when poor people encroach on government land for shelter as in the case of Bindal River but influential people are doing so too. A number of bureaucrats have encroached on government land near the source of the Bindal. The people who have encroached on the Anarwala forest area have done that for food, money and a place to stay in. We even complained about this and approached the Forest Department for help but have not received any response till date,” he added.
Vasant Vihar resident Jyoti Suri said, “People should be aware of the frauds who play with their religious beliefs. We have one such temple in our lane on the main road, mostly crowded due to the ‘Jagrans’ for which these so called pious men collect money from the public. In majority of the cases people do not agree to demolish such places of worship since it hurts their religious beliefs.”
Dehradun District Magistrate, BVRC Purushottam said that the district administration cannot act against encroachment on forest land. “It is a punishable offence for anybody who violates the orders of the Supreme Court and encourages the construction of such places of worship. I will definitely look into the matter and if we find any violation of law then the guilty will be punished," he added.