Monday, February 08, 2010

Dirty Ooty

I'm enraged at how miserable the topography of Ooty has become! It is so full of shit that I am entirely justified in using the expletive here without having to seek any apologies from you for having done so.

How else can one explain the absurd and utter disregard of the much touted scenic environment that has, over the years, come to be known as the "Queen of Hills?" Well, the tagline is surely a misnomer, a myth rather, for now there is no queen, and her hills have long been grotesquely molested by the establishment of innumerable clusters of repulsive settlements that threaten the very ecosystem that houses them!

Now, there are a dozen or so forums that claim to be painfully distressed at the rapid scale of deterioration that Ooty faces, but not one of them has come any closer to implementing as much as the first step to mitigate the damage. I doubt they ever would! And about the Executive, the less said the better.

Simply put, my being infuriated will not reverse the current state to a desired one, neither will the so-called concerted efforts of a certain group of crisply attired, hot-shot, jet-setting, supposedly committed-to-the-cause professionals!

So, I'm better off being irate, or so I believe - talking about sense that is! What do you think?

40 comments:

  1. these things always happen because we have a huge population and the numbers have to be housed...there has to be a solution otherwise these things will always happen....

    Shahid

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  2. This is the way i feel when I am back in Trivandrum, too -- They say Trivandrum is a much "developed" city now.....The software parks and its not so soft people, and the high rises has changed the face --

    Your infuriation is understood.... But Nature is not within our hands -- Deserts turn out of oceans and vice-versa over time -- or over night!

    And afterall what solutions can persons offer when government and organisations are set to change the "face" of places -- and nature has its own way of reacting to actions of people --

    wishes,
    devika

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  3. Acha i didn't mean the not-so-soft people of the software parks alone -- rather generally,

    wishes,
    devika

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  4. Shahid

    Yes - the burden of a bulging population is truly taking a toll on this place - perhaps every place!

    And sadly, nothings being done about it! Even sad to see the wonderful place rotting by the day!

    One can only hope!

    Rakesh

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  5. Devika Chechi

    Having worked with IT organizations all the while, I can emphatically tell you how 'not-so-soft' the techies can be! But what surprises me is what you say about Kerala, for I always thought it had some civil sense embedded deep in its people! But that clearly seems a myth!

    And yes, with regards to the eyesore transformation that our cities are undergoing, I'm not too sure if we could do anything about it, unless the effort is collective, well coordinated and timely - all of which are truly now only a figment of imagination!

    God help!

    Rakesh

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  6. Kerala and civil-sense -- The place is more about animal sense now! Don't you listen to the news??

    telling about news -- yesterday, in a news channel they showed the chief minister of Kerala in deep sleep when the Prime Minister was adressing National Security issues --- and if you feel its just about him, wrong --

    I LOVE my homestate, but there really times that I feel thankful that I am away -- Though Delhi is worse in civil-sense, i have the choice of cutting myself from society, or aspects of the society...In Kerala it isn't so easy--

    eyesore transformation -- well my boy, nothing can be done--because, people believe that's progress; and real estate mafia has emerged so strong in the state....that if i need 10 or 20 cents of land, i have to trade my life for that!

    and when God does anything about it -- it could earthquake, tsunami, and the like -- I really don't wish that! :)

    wishes,
    devika

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  7. Thats such a sorry state! I mean its nuts for Kerala to be called the most literate state and still be a place for such thuggery!

    One can imagine then, how it must be for people who stay there!

    The political administration has certainly, it seems, gone to worse than the dogs!

    A long way from the Gramabanghi that I read in school! Sadly!

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  8. Point No 1.: Its "education" that has taken the civility out of its people

    Point No 2. People there are apparently very happy -- if not honey, liquor and foreign money flows through the state -- rivers are drying and river sand costs Rs 70,000 a truck load...as against Rs. 20,000 about one to two years ago....But no worries, they are all earning money in the US/UK or the gulf!

    Point 3. Political administration -- In a democracy (or is it democrazy) people get the government they deserve -- Not me,Toqueville said that,

    Point 4. Changampuzha Krishna Pillai died in 1948, when he was 37, if i remember correct -- A different period....

    You in school is again a different perod, 50 years later?? -- And its a fast changing world,

    They still teach Gramabhangi -- and thats more about introducing and honouring the poet, than the place he wrote about, i guess

    wishes,
    devika

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  9. mobilise ideas towards lasting solutions!

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  10. Sorry I do not understand your post today !!
    I think its because its very early in the morning here ..... LOL
    I am not such a political woman!!

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  11. i belong to east india but i can say the senario is same every where, it is b coz of corruption & neglegence in work.and

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  12. I would say many other places aren’t exception in this. The authorities sign many development projects, but no more infrastructures to reduce the pollution level, proper garbage cleaning ect… and even authorities deed these things, the peoples mind has to change to accept the rule and nature.

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  13. Of course I was missing some illustrations here... :-) I found some on the net!

    I guess there is a high pressure to build in India. I believe Europe had a similar problem after WWII when so much had to be built too quickly. Much of what was the built is now ready for demolition.

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  14. Devika Chechi

    Oh yes, my boss and I used to have some conversations around how education got the sense off people! He used to be emphatic about it!

    It is indeed very sad to take note of the changing instances in Kerala, and how they have influenced the people at large - for the bad that is!

    Right you are when you say that Changampuzha Krishna Pillai's era and my schooling are of a different period - a very different one at that! It may be foolish for folks like me to dwell upon that!

    And yes, teaching Gramabhangi surely is more about introducing and honouring the poet, than the place he wrote about, at least today thats what it is all about!

    Sadly!

    Rakesh

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  15. Magiceye

    Indeed Sir.... the youth and the willing need to take this as a strong initiative!

    Rakesh

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  16. Anya

    Lol! I must tell you that this post if hardly political...... it is about the ecology of Ooty that is rapidly being destroyed! Pretty soon, from hill station this would become hell station and that would be seriously very sad!

    Rakesh

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  17. Sleeping Beauty

    East India is paradise I hear! But for something creepy as this to happen there - it surely is sad!

    Rakesh

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  18. Jeevan

    Bang on! People's mindsets need to change for the better with the idea and urge to impress upon conservation.....!

    But then, we are who we are!

    Rakesh

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  19. Peter

    Good to hear from you!

    Yes, India is under a tremendous amount of pressure to provide housing to its billions, who are fast duplication and this has caused serious repercussions on the ecology, which is going from bad to worse and worser!

    Rakesh

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  20. The problem is that we just can't help ourselves from passing comments on anything that passes us -- to scrutinize and to talk too much has become a way of life for us - even when we know we can't do anything about it,

    ofcourse what needs to be talked needs to be talked...if it is followed by some positive action, it could be very positive for all,

    Hope your home in Ooty keeps its charm, if not whole of Ooty....Post pictures of your Mom's garden this season -- remember last years :)

    wishes,
    devika

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  21. Precisely.....suddenly, everything becomes 'our' business!

    I do hope that Ooty retains its old charm!

    And Chechi, since Amma is not around, her garden has been unkempt too! :(

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  22. Oh, i was just about to ask of her...Hope she is doing well :)

    Garden -- thats sad -- no interest in gardening, yourself?? :)

    wishes,
    devika

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  23. Shes doing much better Chechi! And is expected to return by March!

    And well abt, interests in gardening..... I certainly do! Love to take good pictures of it and thats it ;)

    Thats my standard response to Mum when she'd ask me to give her a helping hand! ;)

    Now now, you'll be wondering "what a brat." ;)

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  24. hahaha!! :)) I don't expect anything else from boys :)

    And yes, good to know she is fine better and will be back with you all :)

    wishes,
    devika

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  25. Lol! :)

    And thanks for your wishes and prayers Chechi! Means a lot to us!

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  26. Sorry Rakesh
    It was to early this morning
    thanks for explain it to me !!!

    :-)

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  27. Anya

    My pleasure always! I'm glad you visit and leave your observations, which I find very encouraging and supportive!

    Hug ur lil kitty for me ;)

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  28. We have to blame only ourselves for the mess we have created. If one thinks the place belongs to him the city will be definitely clean.

    When people go out of India they try to keep that city when clean. But when they return back to India they are back to their old ways.

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  29. Rajesh

    Yes, we are to blame for the manner our environment is today! And I do agree with you - we truly lack a sense of belonging!

    Rakesh

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  30. Why dont you start a "Ooty Kapathungal Club" which ropes in influential people and committed workers who will help change things?

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  31. really sad to hear the state of this heavenly place..
    infact this is the case with almost all tourist locations in India..
    its really disheartening to see people littering even under the boards that scream 'dont litter'

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  32. Vishwanath Sir

    The sad part is there is a very strong pro construction lobby here that cannot be countered. Worse still, all the influential people are part of that bandwagon!

    Maybe awareness and a constant outline program of how the climate change is impacting us along with the growing problems as a result of deforestation and construction need to be showcased!

    Rakesh

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  33. Praveen

    Yes, but why are we so callous? Without any regard for the environment that we live in!

    Its strange, sad, disgusting and worrying - all at the same time!

    Rakesh

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  34. The irony is that whenever a spot is declared as Tourism spot it goes on to deteriorate as everyone tries to make money of the status the spot achieved.

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  35. Judging by the other comments and our talk a day back, I guess by now yot might have realised that its not just Ooty, its everywhere...

    You can see little shacks over the hills in Manali and Shimla and the hills are bald in D'dun. Kashmir valley is still so beautiful Rakesh, but not as before, its Katrina not Maharani Gayatri Devi so to speak. Still pretty but not what it was, and probably it will never be...

    I am a die hard optimist my man, but I just think the things are only going to worsen as time goes... North east... Sigh...

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  36. Survivor

    Damn right you are! Bang on!

    Money is the name of the game pal! And thats what folks are scurrying after, milking tourists in he garb of taking then closer to heaven when the gullible know not that they are taken closer to hell instead!

    Rakesh

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  37. Samby

    Yessir! Gone is the regal elegance and charm that were associated with the hills.......I sometimes wonder if I could reverse the entire thing back to the 30s or 40s perhaps! Blissful eh?

    And yes, quite like you think, I too believe that things are only headed for the worse - the worst, is yet to come! Just praying that I go away before that! Wanna die young and strong, looking at the mountains and talking to the trees!

    Had enuf!

    Rakesh

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  38. More than the authorities who are not doing anything about cleaning the place, we ought to look at the people who are dis-regarding the basic sense of cleanliness when they are putting all those waste in public places. I think the nation can only go to the level of where and what its people want it to go...

    Destination Infinity

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  39. DI

    Yes, its the people who are creating the problem much more than the lack of action from the authorities!

    This needs a change of mindset, which looks like an impossibility!

    Rakesh

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