Brig KG Behl (retd)

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 9

Brig KG Behl (retd), president of the All India Consumers Council Uttarakhand, has requested all environmentalists to come together to save Parade Ground in Dehradun that was being converted into a concrete ground without permission for change of land use.Brig Behl said Parade Ground is considered the lungs of Dehradun and it is along with Gandhi Park was the only open and green place left in the town. Its conversion into a concrete ground would not only spoil the greenery and beauty of Dehradun but also suffocate the people of Doon who were already suffering from increasing traffic and pollution.He said on the pretext of one or another excuse Parade Ground was being converted into a concrete surface without bothering how much it would affect the greenery of the town and create pollution. He added why couldn’t the environmentalists, who keep on harping on greening Dehradun, come and see how Parade Ground was being spoiled in the name of sports.Brig Behl said they were not against sports but it should be managed properly and carried out at specific places. He questioned the necessity of making concrete courts for tennis, basketball and volleyball in Parade Ground.An old Doon resident said the government had a few years ago planned construction of a stadium at Parade Ground but all lovers of green Dehradun protested and the proposal was shelved. “But now slowly they are again following in the footsteps of those residents who had opposed construction of a stadium at Parade Ground and trying to convert it into a concrete one. It needs to be stopped forthwith,” he added.He appealed to the Governor and the Chief Minister to save the historic Parade Ground and its green cover.