Maharashtra Landslide tragedy
The tragedy has taken a toll of innocent lives , property and dumb animals for no fault of theirs.
This has again exposed the political-bureaucracy and vested interests nexus.
The political class to develop and assure their vote banks keep on showering rewards and money without caring for the ecological balance or potential dangers they are creating.
Exactly one year back the grim tragedy in Uttarakhand pointed out this single aspect in which indiscriminate encroachments made into the river flows and constructions right into the banks were exposed. Permissions were granted or rules bent to accomodate for mere vote bank purposes.
One news channel in Marathi has exposed the nexus and aired the documents showing permission for land use changes to convert forest land/hill slope lands into farm lands granted by the agricultural department only 2 yearas back. Probably the agricultural department was pressurised by the ruling politicians to do so may be against their ( agri. deptt.) wishes or for unfavourable technical reasons doubting for the triggering of such catastrophe.
In such unfortunate incidences the political leaders first pressurise technical people to do the wrongful act under threat or favours and get scot free to claim ignorance and no proof is left since it is always a phone call or verbal order by the political ruling to show their ignorance.They cant be cought be hold for the tragedy without any proofs and now only the poor officials have to bear the brunt ( may be due to their being party to involvement or otherwise).
At this juncture, I wish to suggest to the concerned Environment Ministry Officials/ Honble Minister that hitherto no statutory permission is required in the form of Environmental Impact Assessment Study (EIA)and documentation, the likely impacts occurring due to the land use changes like in this case it was from forest /hill slope to farm lands which would have shown the likely inducement of trigerring such massive landslides and also would have helped in averting the tragedy.
Therefore my suggestion is for open discussion/debate from any concerned experts and angle upon requirement of statutory prior EIA study to convert a landuse particularly in hilly lands and fragile ecology such as the western ghats.
May concerned Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India take note of this suggestion and start a debate for a meaningful dialogue so that the aim is to put stop to the tendency to manipulate natural resources at political will and to ensue responsibility at some level so that the concerned may be brought to book unlike in the present Maharashtra tragedy every one wants to get scot free and the poor and empoverished pay for their lives and property. more
This has again exposed the political-bureaucracy and vested interests nexus.
The political class to develop and assure their vote banks keep on showering rewards and money without caring for the ecological balance or potential dangers they are creating.
Exactly one year back the grim tragedy in Uttarakhand pointed out this single aspect in which indiscriminate encroachments made into the river flows and constructions right into the banks were exposed. Permissions were granted or rules bent to accomodate for mere vote bank purposes.
One news channel in Marathi has exposed the nexus and aired the documents showing permission for land use changes to convert forest land/hill slope lands into farm lands granted by the agricultural department only 2 yearas back. Probably the agricultural department was pressurised by the ruling politicians to do so may be against their ( agri. deptt.) wishes or for unfavourable technical reasons doubting for the triggering of such catastrophe.
In such unfortunate incidences the political leaders first pressurise technical people to do the wrongful act under threat or favours and get scot free to claim ignorance and no proof is left since it is always a phone call or verbal order by the political ruling to show their ignorance.They cant be cought be hold for the tragedy without any proofs and now only the poor officials have to bear the brunt ( may be due to their being party to involvement or otherwise).
At this juncture, I wish to suggest to the concerned Environment Ministry Officials/ Honble Minister that hitherto no statutory permission is required in the form of Environmental Impact Assessment Study (EIA)and documentation, the likely impacts occurring due to the land use changes like in this case it was from forest /hill slope to farm lands which would have shown the likely inducement of trigerring such massive landslides and also would have helped in averting the tragedy.
Therefore my suggestion is for open discussion/debate from any concerned experts and angle upon requirement of statutory prior EIA study to convert a landuse particularly in hilly lands and fragile ecology such as the western ghats.
May concerned Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India take note of this suggestion and start a debate for a meaningful dialogue so that the aim is to put stop to the tendency to manipulate natural resources at political will and to ensue responsibility at some level so that the concerned may be brought to book unlike in the present Maharashtra tragedy every one wants to get scot free and the poor and empoverished pay for their lives and property. more
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Nature is always successful in implementing their law because it gives no discriminination in its implimentations while we always give excuses in enforcing our laws. For example nature rule is everything will be burned if put on fire whether this may be a child, young, old, female, male or disabled. But we give so many excuses to laws violators. more
Aug 03
Is a worthwhile discussion and suggestion from Mr/ Bhagwat. In fact I recount an incident when I was in France in a countryside area where the local politicients under pressure from Business wanted to install some Wind mills on a hill top for generating power for an industry. The very introduction triggered a public outrage as it disturbed the hill beauty but also posed a threat to local residents and houses on the hills. Meanwhile 2-3 wind mills did get installed but as an outcome of the outrage, the windmills were removed and even compensation paid by the company that had ordered them and also the government. Note that in this case no loss of life had happened but the very reaction of people forced the government to act. This kind of Governance will perhaps be a dream in India but I do hope with Modiji it will happen one day. Meanwhile I let the Government consider sugestion on this forum. more
Aug 02
Seek white paper from Maha Govt on Pune tragedy in 30 days time. Best election strategy. UPA playing with human lives by disregarding wantonly environmental/ecological concerns. The guilty to be exposed/punished severely. Public agitation,specially invovingh the effected family members/enlightened citizens/NGOs,essential to seek white paper/action. SPM Sent on my BlackBerry® from Vodafone more
Aug 02
Mr. S J Bhaumik with due respect to you, this is not a forum discussing for matter of personal aspirations and career achievements but to discuss,suggest and bring in answerability and responsibilities of concerned authorities in matter of deaths and losses of lives and property. You have totally misunderstood my suggestion and urgency. Sorry for the correction. more
Aug 02
The kind of tragedy near pune may be repeated in many parts of the country because the land protecting the Hills are being converted for other puroses and hillocks are occupied by constructing huts and houses all around making the natural binding of the rocks very week.These aspects need detailed and continuous study.More over the Govt machinary should reach such spots as soon as the tragedy occurs.In case of Maharastra even the CM has gone very late,though they may say that the other officials were moved but visit of CM or a cabinet minster does make things move faster.I appreciate the interest taken by the PM in advising the Home minister to go to the site.If we want to avert such disasters we have to change our mind set also. more
Aug 02
