We’re a DEMOCRACRY, Let Us Share the RESPONSIBILTY First !

           As soon as 41 mining Workers emerged out of the Silkyara Tunnel in Uttarkashi one by one, 140 Indians heaved a sigh of relief. The workers appeared to be relieved with satisfaction, appearing hale, and smiling with signs of victory over disaster demons, they faced for over 17 days. They were happy to see their relatives in the crowd waiting for their welcome, while everyone outside was jubilant to receive All 41 suffering souls walking in front.

There were  scores of messages of satisfaction and praise from the President, PM, ministers and all who prayed to God , and were anxious to see a pleasant ending to a painful story.

There were many critics who preferred to berate the governments (present and past) for mismanagement, callousness, corruption and incompetent handling of the entire project putting poor lives in risk for whatever. YES, they are right to blame the Govts for many of their faults  of planning, execution, intentional or under public (HNI) pressures to create world class tourist routes and facilities over the Himalayas !

BUT, we as Citizens must also take the Responsibility of demanding world class (4-lane, 8-lane) roads, multistory most modern Hotels and Resorts with nothing less than Presidential Suits and all such amenities which Switzerland or  other world tourist centers may not have gathered in past 800 years since Romans ordained the land as Holiday and Tourist Destination ! Many well-wisher patriots also suggest to the govt to save millions of hard earned Dollars which Indian tourists waste every year during their tour jaunts overseas.

All the calls to develop tourism and tourist facilities, given by our Citizens need to be vetted with reason and responsibility, not to put our Himalayas on the path of Disaster. Every year such road mishaps, landslides,  cloud bursts, floods and natural disasters occur in the Himalayan ranges  mauling  to death thousands on Locals and visiting Tourists. And we shift blame on each other, governments, political leaders and et all.

The Himalayan mountains are geologically made of soft rock, dust, pebbles and sand which can’t bear ‘loads of commercial development’, multistory

buildings and 8-land roads. Moreover, tons of automobile emissions spoil their freshness, chaste natural fragrance and beauty which has been preserved over centuries, (may be by dent of  under-development) and is not able to compete with European tourist infrastructures.  Yet, our Hill Stations and village Resorts need to be developed in a very subtle planned manner, without damaging its natural splendor.

Every time villagers in my hill states see hordes of Cranes, JCVs and truckloads of workers, construction materials make a beeline upwards through the serpentine  mountain roads, their hearts start beating with fears of some piece of their green land going to turn into a dusty road, leading to screechy truck noises and other disturbance on their social life.

We as Citizens must take the Responsibility of saving our Himalayan environment, heritage and greenery for a healthy future for ourselves and future generations. There is no need to emulate the world tourist destinations, infrastructure or facilities at the cost of our pleasant and healthy environment. Most of the hill stations in India have sufficient build-up and facilities to provide reasonably moderate comfort.  (pics credit-NDTV and PIB)