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CUSP OF DISASTER

 CUSP OF DISASTER

 

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

19/VI/2024

 

There was a news item which showed people in America thronging to the beaches to cool down. Even in India, roads to every hill station are having traffic jams snaking for miles. Everyone wants to chill but no one wants to put in their bit to bring ‘temperatures’ down.

The ‘weatherman’ has bad news, the ‘waterman’ has bad news and the government has news which is even worse. Delhi is requesting Haryana, Haryana is requesting UK, but Yamuna flows as a stinky, froth filled, chemical infested ‘Ganda Nala’. The state in the southern states is well known.

Where does the water suddenly disappear? During winters no one bothered. Come summer, water conservation, wasting water, polluting water, planting trees become topics for ‘YOU’ to implement, not ME. I can waste it, throw it, I won’t plug leaks and let it flow down the drain. I can afford Bisleri, who cares!

Government is doing everything to provide ‘har ghar nal’ but sans the ‘jal’. People have seen a lot of Shauchalays but alas, most of them are blocked. Even if they are functional, there is no water to wash one's back sides, leave alone flushing the goodies. People have found an alternative & have converted them into gutka-pan-biri shacks. Shauchalya gaya tel lene.

With our exploding population, jal is a smasaya and needs nidaan. You drink less but waste more, you wash less but drain more. It was “Roti-Kapra-Makan” to begin with. Then became Sarak-Bijli-Paani. Now, if there is no Paani there is no vote, simple!

Be that as it may. Let me change the mood to a lighter note.

We had the weather bulletin running on the TV when we found an usual commotion in the Ellis’ Garden. The hanging pots were swaying as if there was an earthquake. It wasn’t the force of the ‘loo’ but the ‘seven sisters’ and ‘Rufus treepies’ cooling themselves in their favourite pots.

Their ears and attention were towards the news. The anchor was announcing a red alert and orange alert for many places. The only ones listening were these birds. They had to take evasive action to beat the heat or else they would be toast.

What if your ‘seat’ is air conditioned by nature. These poor girls and boys come and sit for two minutes of ‘sukoon’. Their conversations are noteworthy. Each insisting on one another to take as many sips as required from the water bowl as others too need some. Spillage & wastage were tabooed.

One can see them panting with their mouths open as they suffer in the heat and keep their mouths open. Shade and a little place to cool is all that we could offer.

The other day we were driving to someone’s house. There are numerous temporary huts on plots under construction. One had to see the labourers' children playing in that terrible June heat.

Their happiness knew no bounds when a tanker of water arrived. That tanker is meant for ‘curing’ the construction site. The same water is also used for everything else by these workers. Children broke into a frenzy. Every leak in the water tanker was a waterfall for them. Places where the tanker has a hole and a jet shot out became a water fountain. Their bliss could only be understood when you saw their expressions. That is real ecstasy.

It was after dark that we were returning from that same place. Now a pack of stray dogs had plonked themselves right in the middle of the road. These guys generally walk away but today they were stubborn and were not ready to let the car pass, till you almost ran them over.

Flicker of headlights had no effect, horn they didn’t want to hear, shoo they didn’t understand. They just won’t leave. There had to be a reason.

When we had a closer look, there was wet mud on the road. The water tanker was parked right there to offload water. Water that leaked out got soaked in the sand. It cooled and chilled that area. Dogs came and occupied those prime places and would not vacate it, till forced by the car. We got a dirty look and were bestowed with lots of displeasure from the actual residents of the site. Sorry my dears!

Who doesn’t like to take a dip in a pool of water. Depends on what category of person you are. If you can afford a membership of a good club or stay in a colony with a swimming pool, you will never understand the water woes of commoners.

We all can only lecture. Do we realise that we are on the cusp of disaster? I wonder!!!!!!

 

JAI HIND
© ® NOEL ELLIS




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