MAD for theme-based Smart City proposal

Tribune News Service

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Dehradun, June 26

Making a Difference by Being the Difference (MAD), a Dehradun-based student activist group, has made a strong pitch for a well-planned, realistic and theme-based submission of proposal for Dehradun’s entry into the round two of the Smart City competition.

MAD’s founding president Abhijay Negi told mediapersons here yesterday that the group had made the proposal based upon a copy of specific observations by a panel of experts from the Union Ministry of Urban Development, which were conveyed by the director of Smart Cities, Munish Kumar Garg, to the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) on May 25.

“The experts have clearly outlined that the link between various sections of Dehradun’s Smart City plan were quite weak,” Negi said.

He added the experts had stated that cleanliness or waste management had not even been identified as a critical issue, which is a shocking omission since Dehradun had been consistently performing poorly in various Swachh Bharat surveys undertaken by the Union Government.

Negi said it thus was important for all Doon residents to convince the MDDA to send a theme-based realistic proposal before June 30 and this could only be possible if the MDDA invites suggestions from citizens on its plan.

Negi added the MDDA should give a major thrust to a Clean Doon Green Doon initiative within the Smart City ambit. “MAD has already given a list of 52 heritage sites to the MDDA for the purpose of conservation. The MDDA must emphasise on specific sustainable development-oriented models,” he added.

MAD’s founding member Aakash Bhatia, Ritika, Sumit and Sharad Maheshwari were also present on the occasion.