The rain has not yet started and the visibility of the impact tells the story. We had an extremely hostile summer this year and it has not ended yet and hence the setting in of monsoon would have gladdened the heart of people but it brought more pain and agony. Airport canopies have fallen in Delhi, Rajkot and Jabalpur. Videos of Roofs leaking at Lucknow too came. The conditions of newly constructed Rampath at Ayodhya reflected the nexus between politicians and infrastructure mafia or gang who are grabbing ‘thekas’ everywhere. The principle is that every calamity is an opportunity. We cry and they find means and ways to grab the opportunity.
The ‘fall’ of the roof of the Terminal -1 of Delhi airport which killed an Ola driver was the ‘bad advertisement’ of ‘vikas’ after the fiasco at Ayodhya where people’s houses were flooded and roads caved in and the entire city was marooned. Now, you cant blame Jawahar Lal Nehru for the same so T-1 collapse made them tweet that it was constructed in 2009. I have no love for UPA period as their inefficacy ineffectiveness actually gave the opponent enough ammunition. Anyway, the huge underpass built to bring G-20 leaders to the venue at Pragati Maidan at the cost of 750 crore rupees stand smashed now. It is flooded again and it reflect poorly of the government and its leader. This is the sad tale of the current regime which believe in converting every small thing into an event and want to politically exploit everything but is not ready to acknowledge the mistakes, faults and failures. Accepting and acknowledging failure is not the part of the culture instead find a scapegoat and if nothing is there then you can blame Nehru or Indira Gandhi for everything.
Now, we saw the Sukhi river flood in Haridwar and how the vehicles swept away like toys. Who to blame it ? Didnt we see what happened in Delhi last year when it was not raining here but Yamuna was flooded and water entered in the residential areas. Just a couple of days back, we saw reports of Bhagirathi drying up because the Tehri dam has stopped releasing water. I am sure, they know well they cant control water soon the water will show them their power.
What happened in Haridwar was the similar thing happening elsewhere. We grab land for the purpose of business and build our palaces. It is a nexus between powerful. Rapid urbanisation and religious tourism create new demands. The original Ganga near Chandighat bridge is drying as water is diverted to Har ki pairi to make the bhakts happy. This is the crisis everywhere. The aim is not to protect the river and its species but keep the devotees happy and that is why Tehri authorities could stop water of Bhagarithi as it does not impact water at Haridwar and Rishikesh. Let them do it on the time of festival then they will realise. The whole agenda is to make every event as Tamasha, claim the benefit of any issue but keep quiet or blame it on other when there is crisis and ensure the shameless morons discussing on the prime time continue to pedal the narrative directed by their political bosses.
A good government is responsive to people in need and does not blame on others. It is time for government to listen these warning of nature. The floods that we are witnessing is not because of ‘heavy rains’ though it is monsoon season and we expect that. All this crisis is because of intrusion in the natural path of a river and no pathway for water to move naturally due to blockage of drainage system. Act against land and mining mafias on our rivers and make them flow freely without any obstruction.
Vidya Bhushan Rawat is a political commentator
