July 1, 2013: Is it not ironic that Dev bhoomi should have suffered the wrath of the gods, and people, most of them devotees, suffered like no human should ever have to?

Uttarakhand, the newest State of the Indian republic, went through one of the severest natural catastrophes the nation faced in recent memory. Thousands have died as per official figures, though the number is expected to go up many times once the disaster relief and restoration efforts, hampered by the terrain and extent of damage, pick up in the right earnest. It is unfortunate that this catastrophe took place en route the abode of Lord Shiva, normally a very rare occurrence in places of pilgrimage.

These are intensely trying times for the flood-ravaged State and the nation. The devastation and the death and destruction that Uttarakhand has suffered would definitely go down in the annals of history as one of biggest tragedies that the nation has ever faced. Our heart goes out to those who perished and those who suffered and are continuing to suffer. At such times one indeed looks forward to a humanitarian touch and an efficient handling of the post-disaster scenario. But this seems to be like asking for the moon!

While there is absolutely no doubt that the incident is a natural calamity, yet its impact would perhaps have been less severe had the growth, the so-called development and construction of much-needed infrastructure been in tune with the ecology. The haphazard mushrooming of housing and commercial structures, both authorised and unauthorised in the affected areas and elsewhere in the hill State, have caused immense damage to the environment, besides directly hindering the natural flow of water down the hills. This failure to preserve ecology borne out of prevalence of unethical practices in governance and administrative machinery is a shocking commentary on the times we live in.   

Gross inefficiency is generally the hallmark of Government machineries and this invariably reflects also on their ability to efficiently deal with catastrophes, natural calamities and their aftermath. The State administration was completely ill-prepared to deal with the influx of tourists and pilgrims, and sorely lacked the wherewithal to tackle a disaster of such Himalayan proportions. Fortunately, for the beleaguered State and indeed this nation, our Armed Forces, one of the best in the world, and untouched by the prevalent sloth and chalta hai attitude, have literally saved the day in so far as rescuing stranded pilgrims and providing relief and succour to the people affected by the Himalayan tsunami.

Good governance is indeed the answer to the issues plaguing the nation, and one hopes that this sad incident would indeed push the State and its mandarins to provide the much needed good governance. During one of my recent visits to Dehradun, the capital city of the mountain State, I was aghast at the extent of infrastructural rot and deficit, besides the widely visible symptoms of a city allowed to decay. Its various hill stations are also bursting at the seams and the desperate need to develop newer ones has perhaps failed to find acceptance of the powers-that-be.

The area around the holy shrine of Kedarnath that earlier buzzed with frenetic activity and was dotted with ill-conceived shanty structures, now looks like a devastated settlement. Perhaps the incident is the god’s way of conveying its displeasure of man's brutal depredation and destruction of a land known and venerated as Dev bhoomi. This single incident establishes beyond doubt that ecological balance would indeed need to be maintained even at the cost of the so called developmental and political compulsions.

While the extensive loss of lives and damage to infrastructure and property is an irreparable loss, the need of the hour is to take steps to plan and implement a balanced growth of the entire affected belt. The surroundings of the Kedarnath shrine, the approach road and Gauri Kund, all should be developed in an organised manner in keeping with the divine environment, pristine surroundings, need for hygiene and comfort of the devotees.

Perhaps the establishment of a shrine board on the lines of Vaishno Devi would mark the perfect beginning of restoration efforts.

Source: The Pioneer, DT. July 1, 2013.