Dhobi at the Paddys bridge washing clothes
Never have I experienced such a hot and dry summer as of this year. Abu’s streams and pond are stark dry; there are just a few artificial water bodies in the hills of Abu that have dwindling water supplies where the local birds and animals can quench their thirst. The dhobis this year are the hardest hit. They are forced to wash clothes in the stagnant water as there is no clean and fresh water to be had. The clothes washed in these unhealthy water bodies are a source of skin rashes and diseases, not to mention the murky stench that they give off.
Month before last a tanker of water could be had for Rs150/- then last month it shot up to Rs350/- Plus. Today evergreen tube wells have all gone dry; getting a tanker of water is a matter of luck, as the water-table has fallen drastically. Most of the municipal tube wells have gone kaput.
This year if the South West Monsoons do not arrive on time, and God forbid if Abu has another erratic Monsoon we in Abu will be facing an extremely grim water situation, and the city may be plunged into scarcity. The fragility of the Abu ecosystem, combined with the scarcity of water we are experiencing, makes it crucial for Abu to agree on a comprehensive, long-term venture. We may offer “Havans” or ‘do the rain dance’ to appease the rain gods, we can’t make it rain, but we can make the system work better to ensure a reliable water supply for Abu and protect the environment.
Mount Abu in the late sixties never needed a fan in the house the climate used to be so pleasant, but with climate warming over the years Abu now needs AC’s to keep the summer heat out. The future I’m sure won’t turn any better not with the way climate warming has become our destiny, and the bottom line is if our leaders do not tackle this grim situation head on we are headed for a dire water crisis.