Construction has restarted along the riverbanks here, even after the heavy damage caused by the monsoon. Locals are angry at commercial establishments, accusing them of spoiling the pristine Ganga and other spots once known for their natural beauty.
In Dehradun, heavy rains and cloudbursts caused severe damage at seven or eight places, including Sahastradhara and Maldevta, on September 15 and 16.
Many hotels and restaurants built along the rivers and streams were washed away. Roads and bridges collapsed. Large mounds of rubble still remain at these sites.
However, in less than a month, reconstruction has begun in Sahastradhara. In Maldevta, a wall is being built in the middle of the river.
This monsoon, 133 people died in disasters across Uttarakhand, while 88 are still missing. In Dehradun alone, 38 people lost their lives.
Locals in Sahastradhara say the river’s width has been shrinking over the past few years because of uncontrolled construction along its banks.
Prem Singh Maratha, a local, said “Since 2007, large hotels and resorts began to be built here. Their owners encroached upon the river, causing the river's width to shrink." Another resident, Sundar Singh, said the hotels and resorts have ruined Sahastradhara’s natural beauty.
"Sahasradhara used to be naturally beautiful, but now hotels and resorts have destroyed it. People buy a small piece of land and take over a large area. There is no restriction," he said.
Construction is also picking up pace in other areas along rivers and streams. Luxurious hotels and resorts under scaffolding are appearing at multiple locations.
Hundreds of families have settled along the banks of the Rispana and Bindal rivers in Dehradun. Locals say politicians settled them here 20–25 years ago and provided them with power and water connections.
Senior journalist Jai Singh Rawat said politicians have built such a large vote bank in these settlements that removing them has become extremely challenging.
Environmentalist Ravi Chopra said, " Our ancient texts also set standards for settlement along riverbanks, which are now known as a 'floodplain zone.'" He added, "The High Court had banned construction within a 100-metre radius of the Ganga and a 50-metre radius in hilly areas. The question is, who then allowed construction?"
Subhash Chandra, Chief Engineer of the Uttarakhand Irrigation Department, said, " Work has been done regarding the floodplains of the Ganges and its tributaries. The 25-year flood limit has been considered a 'prohibited zone,' where construction is completely prohibited. The area between 25 and 100 years is called a 'regulatory zone,' where activities are restricted.”
Officials said the 25- and 100-year flood limits have been mapped for the Rispana River in Dehradun. The administration has also prepared a list of houses falling within this zone.
The matter is still pending before the National Green Tribunal. Both the ruling party and the opposition condemn riverbank encroachments, but concrete action is still lacking.
Congress leader and former Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat said that after his government left in 2017, rivers, drains, and streams were arbitrarily divided, and large buildings were constructed.
"After 2017, rivers, drains, and streams were arbitrarily divided, and large skyscrapers were built. Instead of stopping this, the government encouraged it. The growing danger in Dehradun is merely a warning from nature," he said.
BJP leader Munna Singh Chauhan said, according to traditional wisdom, people lived away from the river. But now, pillars and new construction are appearing in the river’s path, threatening lives.
He acknowledged the legal difficulties in removing old constructions but called for strict action. "What has happened has happened. Now, new mistakes must be prevented. People must be made aware that they should build at a safe distance from the river," Chauhan said.
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