Dehradun Citizens Forum Launches Green Agenda for Upcoming Civic Polls in Uttarakhand

The Dehradun Citizens Forum, a local civic group, has unveiled its Green Agenda for the upcoming urban local body elections in Uttarakhand. Scheduled for January 23, these elections are crucial for the state. The forum is urging all political parties to incorporate this agenda into their election manifestos.

The agenda, presented at the Press Club, contains 18 significant points. Among these is the call to implement all subjects outlined in the 12th Schedule of the Constitution and to establish a specific municipal law for Uttarakhand. Political parties have also been encouraged to create an Urban Vision Document and include it in their manifestos.

Green Agenda Priorities

Jagmohan Mehdiratta, a member of the Dehradun Citizens Forum, highlighted the need for mayors and councillors to look beyond basic issues such as roads and sanitation. "The Green Agenda has been designed to outline the direction for this progress," he stated. The forum plans to host a Mayor Dialogue event soon, inviting mayoral candidates from Dehradun to discuss this agenda.

Anoop Nautiyal, another member of the forum, detailed the 18-point Green Agenda. He emphasised the necessity for political parties to release a Green Manifesto for the entire state and separate manifestos for each city. This approach aims to address various urban challenges comprehensively.

Focus on Urban Development

The Green Agenda underscores several priorities. These include regular training sessions for elected representatives and resolving the capital city issue. It also calls for initiating a structured process for human resource development and forming ward committees to ensure public participation in urban planning and implementation.

Additionally, developing spatial plans and addressing waste management issues are key components of the agenda. The forum stresses creating a solid action plan to tackle climate change challenges while improving traffic, parking, and public transport systems.

The Dehradun Citizens Forum's initiative aims to guide urban development in Uttarakhand effectively. By encouraging political parties to adopt these measures, they hope to foster sustainable growth and improve living conditions across cities in the state.