Mount Abu Nakki Lake
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.
