Air pollution is one of the leading causes of deaths around the world, claiming 1.6 million Indians in 2019 – the highest pollution-related death toll globally. It is one of the most aggressively discussed issue and governments are scrambling to bring harmful emissions under control. After all, the problem of air pollution is as local as it is global. So where does Dehradun stand?
While global rankings for 2024 places cities such as New Delhi at the top, Dehradun isn’t far behind and was one of the most polluted cities in the world, with a historical WHO ranking listing it at number 31 in 2016. Dehradun also ranks as one of the most polluted cities in India, with PM10 and PM2.5 concentration levels consistently surpassing WHO as well as relatively lenient Indian standards.
According to a 2017 report by Greenpeace India, Dehradun ranked in the top 10 worst cities in India after its annual average PM10 levels was recorded as being dangerously above the permissible limit. Dehradun’s AQI levels fluctuate between moderate (51-100) to unhealthy for sensitive groups (101-150), with a surge observed in December 2024, where AQI consistently reached unhealthy levels (151-200).
AQI regularly spikes every weekend as tourists make their way from nearby cities. With the opening of Delhi-Dehradun expressway in January 2025 set to reduce the current travel time by more than half, these figures are expected to get worse with the influx of more people coming in to the city. There were other reasons as well:
Rapid urban expansion: With a decadal population growth of 37.4%, Dehradun is growing faster than its resources can keep up with. The built-up area in Dehradun has seen a significant increase in the decade spanning 2003-2023, registering a jump from 1.4% to 8.9%. Urban region in Dehradun has expanded by a whopping 80% in 27 years.
Trees are critical in protecting us from air pollution, but according to data, Dehradun is consistently losing its forest cover. Within 20 years, Dehradun has lost 21,303 hectares of its forests, thanks to road expansion and underground cable laying works, real estate projects, etc.
As of 2024, approximately 2,000 trees have been felled for the Sahastradhara road widening project, while approximately 4,000 were felled for the Delhi-Dehradun expressway, with thousands more earmarked to be taken down. As the city’s green cover depletes, so does its rich natural resources and biodiversity, leading to dangerous consequences such as soil erosion and worsening climate conditions.
Vehicular emissions: Between 1937-1967, only 10,000 vehicles were registered to Dehradun. By 2010, the city registered a whopping 12 times increase with 126,452 vehicles registered. Two wheelers, vikrams, trucks and buses are a significant contributor to the city’s rising pollution levels, according to CPCB.
Public transport in the city proves to be inadequate to cover its growing needs, with most people opting for two-wheelers, which according to the CPCB made up 100,000 of the city’s vehicles. While UTC operates around 1,300 buses on a vast network, people still choose private vehicles because of poor frequency and operational issues in the network.
The city’s Doon Connect initiative under which 30 electric buses were launched has also faced numerous roadblocks – from facing operational issues within the first months of launch to opposition from local transport unions. The buses are not a popular alternate option to private transport because of their failure to become a seamless part of the existing transport eco-system of the city.
Unregulated waste disposal: Rampant open burning of solid waste in the streets is further choking the city. As Dehradun expands, the garbage produced in the city registers an increase as well. Dehradun produces an estimated 300 metric tonnes of solid waste daily. While the data regarding the capacity of Shishambara Solid Waste Processing Plant, which processes the city’s waste, is inconsistent, according to a study conducted in 2021, the plant was only processing 200MT of waste a day while holding a capacity of 400MT/day.
A segregated system of dry and wet waste reduces a landfill’s load and would be highly efficient in building a capacity to deal with solid waste. However, non-segregated garbage is openly burnt in the city streets, which leads to release of harmful pollutants in the air, especially when almost 30% of Dehradun’s waste is plastic.
Once an idyllic valley with beautiful views with fresh air and water, the overall quality of life has gone down in Dehradun with numerous health, social and economic challenges. Dehradun’s PM2.5 and PM10 levels are already several times above permissible limits. These particles have a proven impact on human health, with air pollution being the 4th leading cause of death worldwide.
PM10 particles penetrate and lodge themselves within the lungs, causing constant irritation and chronic respiratory conditions. PM2.5 particles meanwhile can even penetrate the lung barrier and enter the bloodstream, hence causing a threat to every major organ in our bodies. In highly polluted cities such as Dehradun, there is an increase in respiratory illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis, as well as lung cancer, strokes and heart diseases.
Children are especially at risk since their lungs are still vulnerable while in the development stage. According to WHO, as many as 442,000 children under the age of five die prematurely as a result of polluted air. Pollution is also a major factor in driving climate change, the effects of which are already being seen in extreme weather conditions in Dehradun and surrounding areas, including increasing frequency of heavy rainfall and sweltering heat.
Taking the example of cities such as Delhi, which have reached hazardous levels of air quality, Dehradun faces the same danger with a continuous decline in the quality of its ambient environment: reduced productivity in workplaces as employees fall sick frequently, children’s learning interrupted as schools shut down or go online as well as the loss of natural beauty that is Dehradun’s trademark. Social mobility will decrease as more people stay indoors to avoid impacting their long-term health, limiting outdoor activities and socialising within the community. This will consequentially have a direct impact on economic, social and mental well-being of Doon’s citizens.
Will you join the good fight against air pollution in Dehradun?
A former journalist, Veronica has switched to working in the field of social development, and has a deep interest in issues surrounding inequality, gender, and climate change. She also tracks the role media and communications play in furthering social growth.
Dehradun Urban Agenda (DUA) is a special Blog Series by SDC Foundation on the upcoming civic elections in Dehradun. It carries voices and thoughts of citizens who strive to make Doon liveable and sustainable.
