The Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) demolished various encroachments from the Transport Nagar area on the weekend. In the face of opposition from those involved in encroachment and the politician representatives of the business fraternity, the authority was able to demolish scores of unauthorised constructions. However, observers point out that similar drives are much needed in various localities of Dehradun town and its suburbs where the municipal authorities and district administration have consistently failed to put a check on encroachments and unauthorised constructions.
Following directions given by Cabinet Minister Madan Kaushik during an earlier inspect of the Transport Nagar area, the MDDA undertook an anti-encroachment drive in the locality on the weekend. According to official sources the various types of encroachments and unauthorised constructions which were demolished during the drive included about 21 boundary walls, 45 tin sheds, 15 shops, 52 shacks, seven sheds, eight toilets and five kiosks. The anti-encroachment drive was undertaken after Cabinet Minister Madan Kaushik earlier expressed dissatisfaction at the condition of Transport Nagar during an inspection conducted in response to a complaint from a local businessman. Officials state that the MDDA will now focus on developing the basic facilities at the sites freed from encroachment and unauthorised construction in Transport Nagar. Observers state that initiating action against anomalies in this area is appreciable but stress that such actions need to be sustained and also executed in other parts of the provisional state capital. Encroachments and unauthorised constructions on the roadside are known to cause traffic congestion and other problems in civic facilitation in different localities of Dehradun. The authorities concerned have initiated action on various occasions against such anomalies. However, factors like political interference, pressure tactics and lack of political will have so far prevented the authorities from effectively clearing the encroachments which continue to occupy lands of the municipal corporation of Dehradun and various other departments concerned. It has often been acknowledged even by public representatives and government officials that lack of coordinated action involving the municipal authorities, MDDA, police, district administration and other departments concerned is responsible for continued encroachments in the city. Anti-encroachment drives have been undertaken in the past too by the MDDA, the municipal corporation and other other departments concerned. But, the space freed from encroachment is not always secured against repeat encroachment. In many cases, temporary constructions are put up soon after a place is cleared of encroachment, point observers. It remains to be seen whether the action of the authorities is limited to one occasion or sustained by the officials to ensure clearing of encroachments from various parts of the provisional State capital.