Achalgarh area set ablaze forest fire Mount Abu [ 24 March 2022 ]

 Wildfire in Achalgarh zone

Wildfire Achalgarh zone
per kind favour Sahil Abu Birder

Wildfire Achalgarh zone

per kind favour Sahil Abu Birder

We judge the lack of moisture in the summer months to be a contributing cause of forest fires. Since summer in the “Abode of Gods” is only just starting, the recent surge of fires in the Achalgarh zone is questionable. On 22 March 2022 there was a fire in Achalgarh, and last night (23 March 2022 at around 6 pm and lasted until about 2 am), three fires broke out almost simultaneously. One was adjacent to the Achalgarh temple area, another was behind the Safari cottages, and the third one was near Veer Baba. 

Officials accuse visitors and locals of irresponsibly tossing lit bidis or cigarettes over dry grass, sparking fires. Some think that they deliberately set jungle fires as revenge for the ban on collecting wood.

Mount Abu has had several forest fire breakouts throughout the years. Forest firefighting is dangerous and agencies lack resources to handle enormous fires. This is one of the most terrifying trials a guy has ever encountered. 

There has been an upsurge in forest fire incidences in recent years, which is a reason for concern for everyone. Forest fires have wreaked havoc on various parts of Mount Abu's dwindling forest every year. The significant damage caused by these fires is the destruction of rare plants located in woodlands. They endanger the lives of animals and birds that live in the forest.

Forest Department officials believe they are short on workforce and equipment to deal with the situation. Even in regions where they have taken action, regular measures such as building fire lines and dealing with forest fires are insufficient. I hope the spate of fires that have cropped up won’t be a harbinger of an evil wind wafting through this hill station. 

Mount Abu city roads in Shambles. [ 15/03/2022 ]

 The pathetic state of Mount Abu roads.

Mount Abu city roads are in Shambles
Photographs per kind favour Jennifer

When RUIDP was given the task of constructing the sewage system in Mount Abu, the condition of the city's road network, which had been declining for some time, became much worse. The incompetence of the government and the commercial telecom sector, which has resulted in haphazard road excavations that seriously jeopardise Abu's fragile ecology, has made the problem worse. The condition of their roadways, which seem to be in a continual state of chaos, appalled residents of Abu, despite ambitions to turn the city into a classy one.

The excavation of all the city's roads has left behind big holes, craters, and loose gravel that is especially dangerous for two-wheelers. the constant rock blasting interrupts everyday life and frequently results in traffic congestion, particularly on weekends when the city draws a sizable number of tourists.

When worried locals voice their displeasure about the frequent digging of their streets, they are told that it's a necessary component of a smart city initiative. A lot of locals doubtfully wonder if a new village is being built, which calls into question the effectiveness of the smart city project.

Potholes and patches abound on the roadways, making daily living difficult for locals like traversing a battlefield. Even if the Abu government is committed to creating a "SMART CITY," the roads are in poor shape because of the influence of state and private contractors, which changes less likely. There are still questions regarding these projects' viability and profitability, and locals worry that they could end up being ghost projects. The previously bright silver line in the distance now seems blemished, casting doubt on the durability and significance of the city's development projects.

Nakki Lake as of today
Photographs per kind favour of Harnam.

MOUNT ABU RAODS 25 March 2022 
Per kind favour Jennifer