Now a days a debate is hotting up in newspapers and TV on the above subject. and many thought provoking articles have appeared in the news papers. One article by Smt. Smruti Koppikar published in Hindustan Times dt.3rd July, 2013 titled "Clearance Mela .Experts raise questions over Government panel going too easy on hydel projects -
-.POWER THAT RUINE UTTARAKHAND" is a real eye opener. It states that in utter disregard to the warnings by eminent scientists, engineers, enviornmentalists the Central Government and the State Government, in utter disregard of all norms, went ahead with their plan. Another article in the same newspaper dt.5th July by Smt.Vandanaa Shiva titled -Mountains into molehills - is equally damning.
Now there is talk of the hoteliers being compensated for their loss. instead of them as also the administration allowing construction of these hotels in the flood pane of the rivers, being booked for causing death of thousands of affluent tourists and poor pilgrims. In this crime against humanity both the Congress and BJB Governments of Uttarakhand are equally responsible. This process was earlier very slow or not there and acclerated after creation of Uttarakhand. The tourists were left totally at the mercy of hotel and transport mafia in utter disregard to all norms. There was no check on the number of tourists being allowed to go to these pilgrimage sites through trecherous terrain and hostile weather throughout the year, far beyond the carrying capacity of the infrastructure , resulting in this human tragedy, which is entirely man made and is now being attributing to the Nature.
During the British Rule there were very strict rules for plying of heavy vehiles in Hills and also the standards for construction of roads. All these rules and regulations were ignored with impunity by the Admonistration. Now trucks carrying loads beyond 10 tons and vehicles carrying 30-40 persons, leaving aside thusands of SUVs, Boleroes, Toyatas etc of rich tourists, are tearing the heart of the hills on roads build just besides the river bed without any provision for masonary walls to protect them from the fury of rivers during rainy season. Compare the alignment of these roads with the Kathgodam -NainiTal road built by the Britishers and one can easily understand why these roads have become death traps.
There is another thought provoking article in Navabharat Times - titled "Lesser culprits have done their lot and now let be prepared for the bigger culprits" In Sanskrit language there is a term"Gruddha Bhoj" i.e.a feast for vultures. This will now soon happen in Uttarakhand in the name of providing succour tto the victims and all the aid will be cornered by the lackyies of politicins hand in glove with corrupt administration. Thousands of Crores Ruppees will be squandered and sub-standard work steeped in corruption will be undertaken without any supervisoion.
It is now high time for the people to be vigilant and not allow the 'Gruddha bhoj' to happen. They should also not allow the mushroom growth of these so called hotels pandering to 'Tourists' wanting 5 star amenities every where regardless of its cost. Strict rules should be framed to regulate the flow of tourists and pilgrim and there should be no compromise with security, safety of the travellers and the enviornment.
Let us hope that the Government will take a belated lessson from this calamity so that such things do not recur in future
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