Roads to disasters

Roads to disasters and disastrous businesses 

When we hear the name of Rishikesh, we have a different feeling. It is cold and warm with thick forests and clean roads. In the summer this year,  I visited the place out of curiosity to explore yoga further.

However, my experience was contrary to my expectations. Your Rishikesh entry will greet you with vehicles honking and traffic blocks. Impatient taxi drivers honk to drive you into hell. It is hard to find pocket roads beside the main road to prevent poaching. Small shops occupy every corner. I think people love cement and concrete as much as anything. At every corner, you can only find concrete roads. When a car enters from the opposite side, we drive in reverse gear. Then people must stop walking. It is difficult to identify roads, as the concrete merged with roads. Shops and houses on the concrete beds blur the separation of roads. The roads are more difficult to drive or walk on. Only those who are well-experienced can walk on the roads.

The heap of plastic waste is a common scene in every northern city, like any other Indian city. A walk through Varanasi is impossible without a mask because of obnoxious fumes from the always open drainage.

As we go up the hillside in Rishikesh, you can see hotels and buildings all around. Most of the buildings appear to have been constructed without a plan. In Uttaranchal, many places are very delicate. When you see these buildings, you will wonder if we need permission to take construction work in the region or whether we can construct these buildings as we desire without civil engineering rules. You may have seen many recent tragedies in the mountain state due to unscientific constructions. Yet no one seems bothered, as if they are preparing for inviting disasters.

Everyone is delighted when hearing the names of Rishikesh, Kedarnath and Varanasi. These places, historically, have had religious importance since ancient days, besides having many enchanting geographic features. However, these places now have thriving spiritual businesses. I couldn’t see asphalt roads but thick-concrete roads.

As Uttarakhand faces many challenges of landslides during the rainy season, how these people get approval to construct buildings in the middle of rivers is astonishing. One thing is sure, none would change habits for others’ sake! Why should spirituality be an exception when everything can be a business? Let someone enjoy the license to sell the God too.