Saturday, November 15, 2008

Chipko Movement - II

Driving down the lanes of Sleater Road & Worli, I felt a little less claustrophobic. Not that the roads and been widened or the traffic had eased, its just that a few trees had been chopped. The large tree at Teenbati, Walkeshwar has met the same fate. What's with the municipal corporation? Why have these trees been axed?

Are the trees being chopped to display the ugly buildings they were covering? The Teenbati tree certainly seems to have been axed to serve that purpose. Not only did it provide shade to both sides of the road, it also covered a dilapidated old uninhabited building. A mammoth of a tree has been chopped off at the Royal Opera House. The only logic I see is nothing. The Royal Opera House building is a neglected beauty and there were reports to renovate it. The renovation has neither started nor was the tree blocking any activity. Still the mighty must fall to the whims of the idiot managing our city.

Some time back, residents of Haji Ali had actually revived the Chipko Movement to protect the 87 trees lined on the Haji Ali promenade. They were opposing the municipal corporation’s bright idea to replace the trees with a Zodiac Park. Can you imagine how beautiful the place would look with all the 12 zodiac signs instead of these 87 trees? These idiotic residents are actually standing in the path of beautification and development. I bow down to the wise men that warm the chairs of BMC.

The one guy I am starting to idolize is the CM of Maharashtra, Vilasrao Deshmukh. He is the true champion of humanity and the messiah of the masses. To regularize the illegal constructions made by builders on forest land, Deshmukh suggested that the innocent residents pay just 70paise per square foot to keep their land! This shrewd businessman will earn the state millions of rupees. He has not only provided relief to the residents but also secured his vote bank. Shouldn't Deshmukh be gunning for the head of the mercenary babus who let the builders get away by constructing on reserved forest land? The panel set up by the Supreme Court has suggested that pre-2005 constructions be regularised at a charge. BUT there's no reference of taking the authorities to task?

Nothing’s gonna improve around here. Assholes will keep wasting time updating their blogs while politicians will keep making moolah. Global warming does not even ring a bell with the authorities.

Screw global warming, I am waiting for the Zodiac Park. Let’s see what’s in store for Geminians. The future looks bright.



Pix courtesy Universal Press Syndicate

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