Our Hills are Ailing!

Last month I went to Kanatal with my friends from the Ghumakkad Delhi group. We had a nice time.  I thoroughly enjoyed the trip but I felt that the hills were not happy, they were ailing!

Decades ago, I remember vividly, that the weather changed whenever we reached
Rishikesh. The cool, fresh air of the hills greeted us. As soon we started ascent
on hills, we used to roll down our car windows, and crisp, fresh, pine-scented
air wafted in.

The roads were narrow and cars chugged labouriously up the snaking roads. At
a distance when any other vehicle approached, our car would take a side and
wait till it passed.

Now roads are wide and smooth. Hill slopes have been mercilessly cut to make
this happen. Vehicles have become stronger and smoothly glide over the
roads at speed if traffic permits.

Traffic jams are common. Everyone seems to be heading towards hills at the
slightest of pretext.

I experienced scorching heat, hot air, and high temperatures right up to
Kanatal. This time I saw more brown barren slopes than the ones covered with
lush green tall pines. Where are all those trees gone? Have they been cut for
creating farmlands or have they been chopped for wood? Shouldn’t there be a
comprehensive government-backed program, involving people and tourists to plant
trees in large numbers and control their cutting down? Trees are the heart and
soul of every land, especially hills.

The forest fire was rampant. Some say that the dried pine leaves which fall,
catch fire in hot weather and some say that they are deliberately burnt. Why
should leaves be burnt? In cities, it is an offense to burn fallen leaves and
there is a penalty for that. Leaves are power-packed with nutrients and are
called green gold. There should be some way of composting them into organic
fertilizers for commercial gains. It can become a local commercial activity
too.

Talking of commercial activities, it is sad to see a cluster of empty houses
located in a heavenly place termed a Ghost village. It is
unfortunate to see people leaving their centuries-old traditional houses in
search of jobs. The houses have been painted and the place is being given a
touristy look to attract visitors.

Maybe the government can think of making a small cluster of cooperative
societies and every society engages in making local products. We saw
Rhododendron juice is being made by a women’s self-help cluster. Hills are famous for fruits and value-added products like jams, squash, candles, clothing products, home
decor products, milk products, etc. Large-scale cooperatives can be established
so that the local population is tempted to stay back and not leave their local
lands.

Groups of youth and school children can be taken for short-duration farm
stays for volunteer work. Farm stays can be organized for tourists where they
can see, purchase, have food in local cafes and maybe stay for a day or two in
rooms made for the same. It will add to the local economy.

Decades back we saw water in plenty on hills. Now streams are becoming
smaller and at most of the places there are more people than water in streams.
I wonder if my grandchildren or their children will see even this. The study suggests that rampant construction of roads and houses obstructs the natural flows of water which otherwise would flow to streams. The impact of this is seen in water scarcity in downstream cities like Delhi which is grappling with water crises.

It is unfortunate to see bottled water as the only source of drinking water
and cold beverages are soothing. Decades ago who could think of cold drinks on
hills? The hotel we stayed in had daily usage water transported by trucks. In
the name of development and tourism, what have we done to the hills?

Potato wafers and other snacks in polythenes and plastics decorate every shop
and Maggie remains the favorite hill meal. Where have our local delicacies
gone?

Can we attempt to serve local snacks in eco-friendly
packs with local natural drinks? I am sure people would love Rhododendron juice
in tetra packs or served in shops. I shudder thinking how the system must be
disposing of all this plastic waste there. Cities are already grappling with
this mammoth problem I pray someone looks into this before this problem of
waste disposal stares at our faces.

We should try to introduce visitors to the local culture. In the absence
of any system or regulation, people behave irresponsibly. Loud music, rowdyism, and
alcoholic drinks spoil the atmosphere. Hills are known for silence. Nature talks
there, winds blow, leaves make noise, birds sing and people need to be silent
to be in peace. Hills bring peace to mind. People went or still many go to
unwind, to rejuvenate and for that, you have to be a part of the stillness.

As tourists, we too have a large responsibility to bear. We should eat and
drink as much locally grown food as possible. We should encourage buying
local produce. We should avoid plastic and carry them back to the plains for
disposal. We should respect local culture and respect local people. We should
avoid water wastage.

Moreover, we should share our knowledge on composting wet waste or those
of us who are aware of bio-enzymes, can share our knowledge on how to avoid
chemicals in day-to-day use to prevent local flora fauna etc.

We should avoid rushing to hills at the smallest pretext. Nowadays even on
weekends, people rush towards hills. We must understand that hills have a
carrying capacity. Joshimath is sinking, Nainital is leaking and Shimla is under
stress. Shimla is a classic example of abuse. A hill station originally meant
to sustain 25000 people has a permanent population of 5 lakhs. Hill slopes meant
for one-and-half-storeyed buildings have 6 to 7 stories built on them.

Hills are retaliating. Nature retaliates badly. As tourists, we have to maintain
a balance.

We should try and make our cities and habitats worthy of living and relaxing so that people do not leave their homes often. Let us try to make our own homes, places of serenity and tranquility.

The onus lies on us to make our hills retain their past glory. I want my
grandchildren and their children to experience hills the way we did in our
childhood.

I want Hills to be happy again!

Together we can make it happen!