Mount Abu-Playground for Vested Interests

Abuites meeting protesting agianst Eco-Sensitive Zone

Mount Abu not only has “the right to defend itself” against Vested Interests, being subjected to yet another set of rules being imposed upon us by The Supreme Court. As any state, Abu is charged with the undeniable duty to protect its citizens. What should be---and is being---disputed, is our liberty, our basic fundamental rights, ‘the right to self defence’. The government dooms a peace loving community to become, quite literally, a hostile and fearful one. Real peace and integrity require the immediate, tangible implementation of the two – Abu and The Supreme Court.
History has shown that people in positions of authority/ whether in politics or business _ don’t always act on the evidence, the same is true of this place, failure by officials to implement the Laws laid down by the Supreme Court has prompted the country’s highest Authorities to bring this humble town and its inhabitants under the Eco-sensitive Zone, which in my opinion is not called for at all. Abu is already governed by the forest laws, as it is now an official sanctuary. It is directly under the Laws of the land, pray then why have the subjects of this place to be burdened by another set of laws to strip them of their basic fundamental rights.
I guess it all depends on where you live. The powers that be and the vested interests have demonstrated that we softies- we hilly-billy liberals living in this secure one horse town are no match for the laws that they flaunt at us. First it was bringing Abu under the blanket of becoming a sanctuary, next the notification sent out in The Indian Gazette as to why Abu should not be declared an Eco-sensitive Zone. Then a team of officials sent to Abu a fortnight ago to personally hear the pleas of the citizens as to why it should not be declared an eco-zone. This formality makes me revolt as it’s not a genuine hearing, one that cares about the peace and welfare of the Abu people. The hearing confirmed one of my nagging suspicions, this meeting was conducted so that the government could seal all its twenty or so loopholes that it had declared in the Gazette.
The team of delegates who had gone to meet the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot sent a message at around 2P.M calling off the strike that was to take place tomorrow. The CM assured the team he would speak to the centre about the matter and try and find an amiable solution.

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE ABODE -MOUNT ABU

The oasis in the desert

As we start a new year, I want to take this occasion to thank you for spending time with me on The Abode.
I know nothing compares to the magical moments you experienced while reminiscing about your second home while here in Abu. This is why I had opted to keep all of you informed throughout the year 2008. I will try and do justice to this home town of mine by keeping all of you up-to-date on major events that take place here on a regular basis.
I’m passionate about helping you and all of you who have loved this hill station to keep in touch with the place you all love; I’ll be posting photographs, stories and the latest in news concerning Abu on a regular basis. I’ve met quite a few very senior and some recent junior mates over a brief period over these last few years after blogging on the web. It gives me real satisfaction to know that this humble pimple on a dimple on this world wide map means so much to so many of our boys who have spent only a few brief years here. Looking forward to mail from all of you who take time out to read and reminisce on the best or (worst) days of your life spent here,also it would be a great idea if you could throw in some suggestions on what you would like to be kept updated on.

MOUNT ABU WISHES ALL HAPPY NEW YEAR

It’s time to say goodbye to 2008

Happy

NEW YEAR !

Let the new year be a year of

freedom from Terror,

A year of service, a year of trust

in Humanity,

A year in which all nations shall

rise to the challenge of

economic crisis,

We from Mount Abu Wish You

Peace, Love, Health and

Happiness in 2009.

Cheers,

Here’s to the bright

New Year

And a fond farewell to the old;

Here’s to things that are yet to

come

Pray that everyone who

reads this plants just one

more tree, making this

earth Greener and Free.

Christmas IN Mount Abu

This year, I didn't go out of my way to make Christmas special. Reality has finally caught up with us old fogies. Well, not that old in today's society; I still haven't turned 65! Christmas, like all other celebrations in this nation, has become low-key, with the recession affecting everyone who has the time to spend money on frivolous customary customs. Mount Abu, with its winter celebration in full force this year, could not maintain its advantage from previous years.

I might be wrong because I don't have the statistics, but a simple stroll about town gives me an idea of the mood of the current crowd. Did the construction of the Western front between India and Pakistan affect the annual traffic passing through this path? I know the Mumbai terror incident had an impact on the influx of international tourists. Well, Christmas has been low-key; I did miss putting up the Christmas tree every year for the kids and Santa with his HO HO HO! I was all set to play Santa with my enormous paunch and snow-white beard, but I would have had to do it in front of a phantom audience because 90% of the people had gone away to celebrate Christmas away from home.

I've always spent Christmas at home since it seems to me to be the only place to be at this time of year. Mother Nature has been very kind this year since old man Frost has just recently begun to visit our paradise. This year's New Year should be chilly and icy, in keeping with the daily dip in temperatures. Tourists visiting Abu at this time of year should dress warmly because the temperature will continue to fall consistently until the first week of March.

Any tourist caught unaware and in need of warm shawls could contact Mr.Arvind ph no 09829092687 for pure Angora Shawls made exclusively at his Rabbit farm at Oriya, Mount Abu. These shawls are of the finest quality and are hand-woven by the village folks of Oriya. Anyone interested in these custom hand-woven shawls can order these shawls directly from the farm.

Abu invites everyone to join its winter festival and celebrate the New Year with us at Mount Abu. May peace and wisdom prevail in the coming years with our leaders.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 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.