Revived old pond transformed into a green recreational space featuring pedal boating, an island, jogging track, yoga deck and children’s park
Dehradun, September 2026: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday inaugurated the ‘Jal Srishti Park’ developed by the Mussoorie-Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) at Mianwala in Dehradun at a cost of approximately ₹8.64 crore under a Chief Minister’s announcement.
Congratulating local residents on the new park, Dhami described it as an important step towards the state government’s vision of a clean, healthy and green Dehradun. He said the park represents a harmonious blend of modern facilities and natural beauty and has been designed to cater to people of all age groups, including children, senior citizens, women and youth.
Old pond revived instead of being removed
The Chief Minister expressed satisfaction that the old pond at the site had been revived rather than being eliminated during the development of the park. He said the conservation of the pond and development of facilities around it had given the area a new identity.
A picturesque island has been developed in the middle of the pond, while pedal boating has also been introduced as a recreational attraction. Dhami said residents of the Raipur area would now be able to experience a beautiful natural destination within Dehradun, offering what he described as a “Nainital-like feeling”.
Water and forests integral to India’s heritage
Dhami said water and forests have traditionally been regarded in Indian culture not merely as natural resources but as integral parts of life and cultural heritage.
He said the revival of old ponds and water sources is therefore not only an environmental conservation effort but also an important step towards preserving heritage and securing water resources and nature for future generations.
The Chief Minister said the state government was committed to balancing development with environmental protection. Development, he said, should not be limited to large buildings and concrete structures but should make people’s lives easier, improve the appearance of cities, protect the environment and create better conditions for future generations.
Development works gaining momentum in Raipur
Dhami said development activities in Uttarakhand were being accelerated through better coordination between the Central and state governments under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The government, he said, was working to ensure that the benefits of development reached every region and section of society.
He said several projects related to education, healthcare, roads, drinking water, parks, sewerage and flood protection were progressing in the Raipur area. Facilities at higher educational institutions were being expanded to provide better opportunities for young people, while healthcare services were also being strengthened.
Road resurfacing, renovation and widening works are underway in the area, along with measures to improve the sewerage system. New tube wells and overhead tanks have been constructed to address drinking water requirements, while replacement of old pipelines and installation of new water supply lines are also progressing.
Focus on green spaces and connectivity
The Chief Minister said parks were being developed and beautified in areas including Defence Colony, Siyanwala and Nehru Colony to provide residents with accessible green spaces where they could spend time in a healthy environment.
He also said work was progressing to improve the road network from IT Park through Polytechnic towards Mangluwala. The project is expected to improve connectivity and ease traffic movement in the area.
Saung Dam to strengthen Dehradun’s water supply
Dhami said Dehradun was expanding rapidly and the demand for drinking water was increasing along with its population. In this context, work on the important Saung Dam project was also being advanced, which would help strengthen the city’s drinking water system in the future.
He said flood protection and channelisation works were also being undertaken on rivers and seasonal drains in the Raipur area to provide relief from flooding and waterlogging during the monsoon.
The government’s approach, he said, was to provide roads wherever they were needed, ensure drinking water reaches areas facing shortages, find permanent solutions to waterlogging and develop attractive parks wherever more green spaces were required.
Residents urged to protect the park
Dhami said development should ultimately be measured by its ability to improve people’s everyday lives. Jal Srishti Park, he said, reflects this broader approach by combining environmental conservation with facilities for recreation, health and connecting people with nature.
He congratulated MDDA officials, engineers and employees involved in the project and expressed confidence that the park would become an important attraction not only for the Raipur area but for people across Dehradun.
The Chief Minister appealed to residents to treat the park as their own and take responsibility for keeping it clean and attractive. While the government can build parks and provide facilities, maintaining them over the long term, he said, is a shared responsibility of society.
He particularly urged children and young people to make greater use of the park for sports, running and yoga and to spend time amid nature while also taking responsibility for protecting the park and its water body.
Modern facilities integrated with natural surroundings
Developed by MDDA at a cost of ₹8.64 crore, Jal Srishti Park is a multi-purpose green and recreational space centred around the revival of the existing pond.
The park includes a jogging track for morning and evening walks and running, a yoga deck, a children’s park, an educational flower garden showcasing flowers and plants, landscaped areas, green spaces and seating facilities. A landscaped island has been developed in the middle of the pond, along with pedal boating facilities.
The project integrates the conservation of an existing water source with modern urban amenities, bringing together environmental protection, water-source rejuvenation, health, recreation and natural beauty at one location.
Dhami said Dehradun is known across the country for its greenery and natural beauty and stressed that preserving this identity while expanding modern facilities is a shared responsibility.
He assured residents of the Raipur area that the government would continue working to make their lives more convenient, safe and better. He said the state government was moving ahead with its commitment to make Uttarakhand one of the leading states in the country and to fulfil its resolve to make the state the best in the country.
MLA Umesh Sharma Kau, Mayor Saurabh Thapliyal, MDDA Vice Chairman Banshidhar Tiwari, senior officials and a large number of local residents were present at the inauguration.
