Fluctuating number of ongoing protest demonstrations and noisy gatherings have become a regular feature of the “designated” protest site-Old Raipur bus stand—adjoining the Parade Ground.
Both the local administration and the State Government appear to have remained apathetic towards the violation of various regulations creating problems for the public especially school children and office workers among others.
High decibel rants of members of different protesting bodies at this site have become a daily nuisance, generating noise pollution and exacerbating the deterioration in level of civic sanitation in the core area of the town with at least one Government school, some Government offices and the Doon library and Research Centre also being situated in close proximity.
In the past, the old Raipur bus stand was used as a station for buses plying to mountainous destinations in the upper Garhwal region. In 2009, the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun had identified this bus stand as being responsible for encroachment and major traffic congestion in the area around Parade Ground.
It was shifted to Chuna Bhatta but did not operate for long from the new location. The operation of buses was resumed from the old Raipur bus stand. In 2014 the Dehradun Mayor Vinod Chamoli had suggested and the MCD executive members had agreed to the proposal for developing facilities for buses plying to mountainous regions from the bus standfor which the MCD would also charge the bus operators.
On the other hand, the State authorities changed the provision for allowing protesters in limited numbers to stage demonstration by the roadside outside the Vidhan Sabha in the past.
Citing factors like ‘disturbance’ and ‘security risk’ purportedly posed to elected public representatives and appointed public servants, the administration proscribed protest near the Assembly building and at Gandhi Park, directing that protest demonstrations be staged at the ‘designated’ site--old Raipur bus stand.
The situation has drastically deteriorated especially in recent times. Presently, about half a dozen groups of protesters with varied demands have set up temporary shelters for protest gatherings which have now become the most visible and noisy activity being facilitated by the authorities.
On condition of anonymity, a Government employee working nearby complained that the facilitation of protest and the manner in which these are staged here gives rise to many questions. “The protesters raise slogans while ranting speakers using microphones level allegations, reiterate their demands, issue threats to the authorities about intensifying their protest and even make controversial and objectionable statements on different issues. At times, some of the gathered protesters consume alcohol during the evening hours and take up the microphone to deliver diatribe. Apart from the protesters urinating in the open at corners of the bus stand area and the littering, the high decibel noise generated also causes considerable disturbance to the children of the government school nearby in a corner of the Parade Ground,” he said.
A lady departmental worker in one of the offices nearby opined that though citizens have the democratic right to protest in a non-violent manner, they should not be allowed to violate civic regulations by generating noise pollution and littering the area. “The place now remains crowded more often with protesters and the police force. The buses which used to ply from here are following makeshift arrangements which also add to traffic woes in this area. I also felt that depending on the circumstances, a female may not find this place safe especially in the evening hours,” she said.