|
Harming nature for politics is
bad. All natural resources we have, we hold to hand them over to our
posterity. What we inherit we owe it to our progeny and our posterity will
judge us by what they receive from us.
An official report has indicted state governor Let Gen (retd) S K Sinha-headed
Shri Amaranthji Shrine Board (SASB) controlling the pilgrimage to the Amarnath
cave shrine for failing to protect the fragile mountain ecosystem of Pahalgam.
First some startling revelations the J&K state pollution control board's
report makes:
55000 kgs of garbage, including polythene and plastics is dumped in the virgin
forests of Baisaran and Sarbal every day during the pilgrimage. (This year the
pilgrimage will last for two months; imagine the quantum of waste and
pollution it generates).
All the sewage produced by the pilgrims including the human excreta goes into
river Lidder making its crystal clear waters unsafe for drinking.
Thousands of open toilets are being erected along Lidder banks with effluents
directly emptying into the river, poisoning its waters. The pilgrims, often
sadhus, defecate in the open damaging the beautiful landscape.
Thousands of vehicles are allowed in the mountains, now even up to Chandanwari
for the convenience of pilgrims, a sure and sustainable way to destroy the
flora and wildlife in the hilly forests.
Over past some period the yatra has evoked criticism on two main planks: While
the conservationists have expressed concern over the huge damage yatra
inflicts on the environment, on the political side the question of extension
in yatra period has brought the top state executive into a tug of war with
state governor.
In 2004 the state capitulated to the Board's pressure and allowed the yatra to
be conducted for one and a half months, earlier it was conducted for one
month. While allowing the extension the government squinted to see the flip
side of the story. In order to escape the 'political troubles', the then
government sought to ignore the genuine concerns of the environmentalists.
One expected before taking such a vital decision the government should have
sought a public opinion and expert view on the issue. But where wind blows
against the tide expecting rationality is simply foolish. The decision to
extend the yatra was taken in haste.
Taking strictly from the economic point of view could we ask how much the
state is earning out of this much-hyped event the conduct of which has really
become a cumbersome task both in terms of security and finance for the state.
With all respects to the religious sentiments of the pilgrims, could we
venture to ask the authorities why the period of the yatra has continuously
been extended from mere ten days a decade or so ago to the two months
presently.
Howsoever they may have us believe that extension could be instrumental in
'stimulating' the tourism sector in Kashmir the fact remains that the event
has never been economically viable. Instead of earning, the state has much to
lose on the extension.
While the yatra on the one hand has become a tool for the governor to assert
his power in the state, one the other it has supposedly become a big industry
for some babus in government.
Look over this: Every year mountaineering items worth lakhs are being issued
to the people entrusted with the job of arrangements for the yatra. The
equipments have ever been returned to the department in time, I doubt.
Some years before a few pilgrims would travel Kashmir simply to have a glimpse
of the Shiv lingam in the cave of Amarnath. The increase in the number of
yatris has amplified the pressure on the environment.
If the government is looking towards the event as an effort to promote tourism
in Kashmir they are mistaken. Ask the tourism industry here and they will tell
you how much they earn from the yatris. On the contrary the yatra disturbs the
quality tourists.
Here these columns do not advocate against conduct of yatra in Kashmir.
However, a humble effort is being made to bring home the point that every
extension in yatra has brought with it the bogey of problems for people, for
tourism industry and for environment.
It is the serene and idyllic setting of the place that attract thousands and
thousands of nature lovers across the world to Kashmir. Once you disturb these
settings you are doing a great disservice to this nation. The beauty of this
place is in its sequestered nature. Once you change it into a long last
razzmatazz you are obviously not doing anything good.
The best way, as they say, to assess the wealth of a country or a state is by
the quality of its soil and the quantity of its available fresh water.
Thankfully, we are rich at both. But what is and what should be the cause of
concern for one and sundry is the gradual depletion and continual degradation
of these resources.
The different components in the complex and intricate structure of the nature
are so closely intertwined, interrelated, and inter-connected that a slight
disturbance with one component can unbalance the other(s).
It is unfortunate that the successive governments have taken cover under the
unfavorable political conditions in the state. Not only have they failed to
protect the state's precious resources, at times they have been party to the
loot and plunder these resources have been subjected to.
Who will tell our planners that every tourist spot has a limited capacity to
support an optimum number of persons/tourists? Once we open those places for
the indiscriminate public rush we play with the fragile ecology of such
places.
Every component in the nature is placed so meticulously as if someone has put
them with his own hands. Nature is always brittle and fragile that need to be
handled with kid gloves. The best way to protect the nature is to leave it as
it is. Indiscriminate human interference in nature is something that should be
discouraged at all levels.
It is time that a serious thought is given to the issue. Let us limit the
number of yatris. Let us take the initiatives that will make the yatra a small
highly regulated event completely in sync with the environmental
responsibilities. That would be a step towards relieving the God gifted place
of the extreme and disproportionate pressure it is subjected to for politics.
"Copyright ©2000-2006 www.oocities.org\save_environ.All Rights
Reserved"
|
