Dehradun, August 24, 2026:
Arunoday Times
A total of 140 public grievances were received during the Samadhan Diwas (Public Grievance Redressal Day) held at the Dehradun Collectorate on Monday under the chairmanship of District Magistrate Dr. Ashish Chauhan.
The grievances primarily concerned land encroachment, blocked drains and waterlogging, alleged fraud in widow pension schemes, domestic violence, property disputes and delays in development works.
Taking a firm stance on encroachment, the District Magistrate directed officials to conduct spot inspections and take action in cases involving alleged encroachment on government and village common land.
In a complaint from Chharba village along Langha Road, allegations were raised that a wall had been constructed over a rainwater drain and Gram Samaj land, resulting in waterlogging. The Tehsildar, Vikasnagar, and the District Industries Centre manager were directed to inspect the site and take appropriate action.
A complaint from Dev Rishi Colony alleged that a Common Service Centre operator demanded ₹10,000 for processing a widow pension and retained the complainant’s original documents after allegedly receiving ₹4,000. The DM ordered a joint inquiry by the concerned officials and police, with directions for appropriate legal action if the allegations are established.
The administration also took note of complaints involving domestic violence and property-related disputes. In one case, a 65-year-old woman from Rishikesh alleged assault and eviction by her son and daughter-in-law. The Circle Officer, Rishikesh, and the concerned women’s commission team were directed to take necessary action.
Other grievances included compensation issues involving Lakhwar Dam-affected farmers, a pending road project at Paonwala Sauda, soil erosion caused by an irrigation drain in Balaji Vihar, and the suspected electrocution death of an employee at a sports academy in Mohabbewala.
DM Dr. Ashish Chauhan directed all departments to ensure that grievances received during Samadhan Diwas are not treated as a mere formality and that every case is resolved in a transparent, qualitative and time-bound manner.
He further instructed officials to take responsibility for resolving complaints at their level so that complainants do not have to make repeated visits to government offices.
Senior district officials, including Additional District Magistrates K.K. Mishra and Smrita Parmar, SDM Aparna Singh, District Development Officer Sunil Kumar and District Programme Officer Jitendra Kumar, along with other departmental officials, attended the grievance redressal programme.
