New master plan for rural Dehradun

Decks have been cleared for preparing a new master plan for the vast rural areas of Dehradun, which had seen a haphazard development during the past decade.

The Doon valley Special Area Development Authority (DVSADA), the nodal government agency for the development of Dehradun’s rural areas, has appointed a new consultant for preparing the master plan. The previous master plan had expired in 2001 but had been extended since then.

“In order to provide better infrastructure and other facilities, we have appointed Scott Wilson as the consultant for preparing the master plan of Dehradun’s rural areas which come under DVSADA,” said an official of the DVSADA.

According to an estimate, DVSADA area comprises 1.62 lakh hectares of land which is three times more than that of Mussoorie-Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA), which is the nodal agency for the development of urban areas of the Doon valley. Small townships like Vikasnagar, Herbatpur, Selaquie, Ranipokhri and the hill resort of Dhanaulti also fall under the jurisdiction of DVSADA.

The DVSADA was set up in 1987 and had brought out the first master plan in 1993. This master plan expired in 2001, since then it was being extended from time to time. Experts say, the master plan is necessary for Dehradun rural areas as the land there is highly fertile and is being used for agriculture.