By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
After the Indian Military Academy (IMA) raised strong objections, the Mussoorie-Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) has revoked its decision allowing the construction of a commercial project on security grounds.
Buckling under pressure from the Indian Army and the media, the MDDA annulled the map plan of Shivam Agarwal, a top builder, of his proposed project in the Panditwari area in Dehradun. The MDDA issued a letter to the builder on April 15 saying the map was rejected after he failed to obtain the mandatory NOC from the IMA, a premier cadet training institution of the Indian Army.
Top MDDA Officials admitted that the map was approved despite the builder not getting the mandatory NOC from the IMA.
The IMA’s objection came after top army officials saw an advertisement for the “Doon Curve” project in a local daily. The IMA immediately raised red flag over the project.
According to the map plan, the project site in Panditwari falls within a high security zone close to the IMA. As per the Ministry of Defence guidelines dated May 18, 2011, obtaining a mandatory security clearance from the Local Military Authority (LMA) is a prerequisite for any construction activity undertaken within a 100-meter radius of any defence establishment, official sources said.
Under these guidelines, there are strict restrictions on the construction of single-story buildings within a 100-meter radius of defence land, and on the construction of four-story structures within a 500-meter radius.
In a letter addressed to the District Magistrate of Dehradun and the MDDA, the IMA questioned how the project was allowed to proceed without its requisite approval. The letter said “This proposal violates existing policy guidelines—specifically those pertaining to construction in the vicinity of defence land—as well as the mandatory requirement to obtain prior clearance or NOC from the LMA.”
The IMA also cited a directive issued by the MDDA in September 2023, which stipulated that no housing or construction plan should be sanctioned or approved without the prior clearance.
According to officials from the Authority, the builder failed to provide a satisfactory resolution to the formal objections raised by the IMA in letters dated February 3 and 4.
In the rejection letter issued by the Authority, it was stated: “For the aforementioned reasons, it is not possible to consider your application for a construction permit; consequently, the approval of your building plan is hereby revoked.”
When contacted, top government officials were tight-lipped over the issue.