We, the students of Hopetown Girls' School are deeeply concerned about the increasing light pollution caused by the rapid urbanisation in Dehradun.

The heart of Uttrakhand, Dehradun was once known for its clear night sky and vibrant biodiversity, which is now loosing its natural scenic beauty under the constant brighteness of streetlights, commercial hoardings, and residential lightingings. This excessive use of 'Artificial Lightning At Night' (ALAN) not only hides the stars, but also disturbs local wildlife and harm human health.

Urban growth and unmanaged lightening have severely affected city’s natural environment. Many species of birds, bats, and insects that rely on natural light for guidance, feeding and reproduction are being harmed. 
For example-
- Fireflies, once common in Dehardun are disappearing because their light signals are drowned by the city glow.
- Migratory birds lose their sense of direction due to bright city lights
- Bats and nocturnal speices avoid well-lit areas, leading to loss of feeding habitats.
- Insects, especially those important for pollination, die in large numbers around artificial lights.

This inequality in ecosystems is threatening biodiversity and disturbing the fragile link between species. Moreover unreasonable lightning leads to unnecessary energy ewaste, contributing indirectly to global warming and the climate change.
 
We urge the residents of Dheradun to take small steps towards the big change

-Implementing and enforcing regulation on the brightness, placement, and timming of outdoor lightining.
-Promoting the uses of sheilded and wildlife-friendly LED lights.
-Restricting the operating of unnecessary lightining after 10pm in residential and commercial zones.
-Establishing and protecting “dark zones” near forest edges and wildlife corridors to support nocturnal life.

We believe that development should not come at the cost of destruction of the natural sites. 
By managing urban lightining responsibly, we can restore dehradun’s clear night sky, preserve its wildlife, and create a more sustainable, eco-friendly city.

We the undersigned, request all residents, students and environlmental activist to sign this pettiton and urge the authorities to take immediate steps to reduce light pollution in Dehradun.
Together, we can ensure that our city continues to shine-under the stars, not beneath artificial light.

Signed,
Students of Grade 10
Hopetown Girls School
Team Jhalak
Dehradun, Uttrakhand