Mount Abu –‘Decision-Making’ “Farce or Facts”????

Mount Abu Nakki Lake

I wonder what this is all about, Meetings after meetings, notifications after notifications, State Government blunders or some schema to pluck some sort of mileage out of a situation gone wrong since by gone days.



The greatest danger before us today is that we live in an era where forces can package and standardize our lives for us—steal it from us and sell it back at a premium. First it was our local bodies that bled the public at large by stacking up so much red tapeism that out of sheer desperation people had to resort to grease palming to get their work done, now with Abu being pushed into an official sanctuary status more rules and more frustrations for minor jobs to be performed as now one would have to run from more pillar to post for permission to get ones work done. In between Abuites were given to understand by the State Government that the town of Mount Abu would not fall under the preview of the sanctuary laws, it seems there was a blunder on the part of the State Government as it did not follow protocol i.e. work through proper channels, the State Government first had to get clearance by the Ministry of Environment and Forest of Mount Abu, and then clearance from the Headquarters department situated in Lucknow.


Now that Abu has been declared an Eco-sensitive zone, it has been argued by the CEC, That since the State Government has not followed protocol the declaration made by them that the town of Abu would be exempted from the sanctuary status was illegal and that the town of Abu would also be included within the sanctuary, hence the people of this town would now have to adhere to the Sanctuary laws.


I really wonder where Abu is heading with all this hype of Abu being an eco-sensitive zone and following the norms laid down by the Law of the land where its directives over the years have been blatantly disregarded in connivance with the highest officials placed at the helm to look after the affairs of the state. A Supreme Court directive came out some years back banning construction of all sorts, well construction is rampant, add to that encroachment. The authorities turn a blind eye to everything, it’s pretty obvious, you pay and get your job done. If Government Offices have to be constructed, if homes have to be made for Government officials well that doesn’t affect the environment. If an Abuite owning an old building wants to plaster the walls with cement, because it’s falling apart, well that rapes the environment, the poor man has to run from pillar to post for permission to do it and yet he doesn’t get it. Compare this to the new Government buildings coming up, these don’t affect the environment. Well that’s 22nd century humour for you.


Can you imagine this scenario, the government had banned the use of plastic bags in this little hill station over a decade ago and today when one looks around, all one sees is heaps of rubbish and the majority of it is plastic bags. The “Love lake Nakki” as referred to by a host of authors and poets is today a dead lake, its catchment area is all chocked up its full of thrash, walking around the lake is like passing a stinking swamp.


I wonder what will be gained by declaring this small town Eco-Sensitive. Some good will come off it I’m sure, no more commercial buildings only commercial government projects will be seen in the near future. It’s all about money, all about control, it’s all about power. Life will go on, buildings will be built, the poor and honest will suffer, and the encroachers will have a ball.


The people of Abu have called umpteen meetings to put forward their views and their objections with a valid cause. Why should we the people of Abu living in the greatest democracy be subjected to rules pertinent to tribals who have no say in their favour.


The Government should be broaching crucial issues, like drinking water scarcity. The Salgaon dam project that is meant to provide drinking water to the hill town is lying in Limbo for over three decades over the issue of acquiring the permission from the forest department a meager 100-acre land. When there is no clarity over whether what should be done for the betterment of this hill station amongst monitoring committees Abu is doomed to becoming another puppet in the hands authority that works only towards its own end and not for the betterment of the people of Abu, and its future generations.

ONCE UPON A TIME LEADERSHIP MATTERED, NOW DEALERSHIP RULES THE WORLD.

Mount Abu Eco-Sensitive Zone

Mount Abu is now on its way to officially become an Eco-Sensitive Zone. This area has been held sacred from time immemorial and it is only fitting that for future generations this Abode of ours retains its originality and is not turned into another over clustered ugly hill station, like some of the other places on this planet of ours. It would be a huge constraint faced by the Abuites in terms of new dwelling for their future expanding generations. I love this place and would never desire that it becomes a concrete jungle and lose its natural exquisiteness, yet at the same time on its complete implementation I would fear for the poor and the under-privileged who have eons ago encroached on Municipal land and who have their small shanty colonies spread over different areas of Abu being pulled down to adhere to the norms of Eco-sensitive laws. These very same denizens have been used by our political leaders to gain votes for their parties; it would be a crying shame if this came to pass.
Abuites, for centuries have safe guarded its natural environment and have taken great pride to see that nothing came in its way to harm the environment. The British in their wisdom saw to it while they were here that this paradise should be preserved and hence always considered it a sanctuary; their bylaws are still in enforcement.
We have been given a time period to air our grievances as to why this semi arid hill station not be declared an ECO-SENSITIVE ZONE. Pray why has Abu been chosen to be another Eco-sensitive zone in this huge diverse land of ours? While the whole of North India and the Himalayan region far more richer in flora and fauna have not been broached on this topic, it’s ironic as Abu only last year had been officially declared a sanctuary and Abu comes directly under the directives of the Supreme Court, And its laws laid down for the functioning of this hill station. Does the Rajasthan government fear that the directives of the Supreme Court will not be adhered to hence the need for it to be declared an eco-sensitive zone, so as to doubly make sure that the additional laws that are provided by the declaration of eco-sensitive zone can compensate for the short comings of the law of the land? Another question rises its head, are there vested interests in making this area an eco sensitive zone, if yes what are they?
Why should the public and tribals of this land be subjected to yet another set of rules to save the flora and fauna of this place, are we not also people of a democratic republic who for centuries have safeguarded our national heritage and preserved the beauty of this hill station of ours. It’s a crying shame that the law of the jungle still prevails in our civilized modern world, the mighty shall have their way and the meek and humble shall be trod upon. Abuites are a peace loving community who have always lived and worshipped nature and have never raised their voice of displeasure even when subjected by the powers that be.
Laws will be passed, but does it have to be the people of Abu yet again to be subjected to another set of environmental laws for the proper functioning of this place, to what justification? Aren’t the directives of the Supreme Court and those of the Forest Act enough for the smooth running of this place? Should the short comings of the Government not to implement these laws have prompted that Abu be declared an Eco sensitive zone? Erring officials not found competent to perform their duty should be removed and replaced by competent ones.
Abu has neither any polluting factories nor paper mills in its vicinity to cause any kind of damage to its environment. The only industry Abu can boast of its hotel industry and educational outlets, the rest of Abu is a peaceful town of banyans and traders. We do have our heritage religious sites which are strongly protected by the inhabitants of this hill station. I for one would like to question the authorities who have seen in their wisdom sitting at their conference tables as to why this hill station and its public at large be subjected to laws that should be instrumental to areas where the environment is facing grave danger of environmental devastation, here in Abu the only adverse factor to have any change on its environment is Global climatic changes.