Nainital: Nainital of Uttarakhand has a distinct identity in the country and the world due to its lakes, lush green hills, peaceful environment and rich historical heritage, but in the last few years, the pressure of huge projects being done in the name of increasing construction and beautification on this city is increasing rapidly. The Supreme Court has already expressed concern about the load carrying capacity of the city, yet many new projects are being started here, that too in areas which are facing environmental stress.
Many projects raise questions
These days, Manaskhand theme based beautification in Pant Park and new construction work in Company Garden are the topic of discussion. Local people, historians and environment lovers are asking what is the real need for these projects when Nainital’s structure and terrain are already weak? Will these constructions enhance the beauty of the city or pose a threat to its very existence?
Pressure of ‘artificial decoration’ on natural beauty
Nainital resident famous historian and environmentalist Professor Ajay Rawat clearly says that Nainital does not need any kind of beautification. According to him, this city is already very beautiful naturally. The British have also written many articles on the beauty of this city and described it as more beautiful than heaven. Professor Rawat believes that if the city has to be made more attractive, then there should be an increase in natural beauty rather than artificial construction.
He said that evergreen tree species like Buransh, Champa, Gulbahar should be planted here on a large scale, so that the city remains fragrant with flowers throughout the year. Along with this, ‘Moss Gardens’ should be created here in which eco-friendly beauty can be developed with stones, lichen, moss and natural vegetation. Due to which the eco system here will also remain balanced and the environment will not be harmed.
Questions on growing construction and style
On the direction of the current beautification projects, Professor Rawat says that the Manaskhand theme is linked to the identity of the Kumaon region of Nainital, but the gates and structures being built in the city look Rajasthani style. He said that when it comes to Manaskhand and Kedarkhand, the original cultural identity of Uttarakhand, Kumaoni architecture, should have been promoted, but the opposite has happened in Nainital.
He says that heavy construction on the banks of the lake is also dangerous from the environmental point of view, because the court has already expressed concern over the load bearing capacity of Nainital. In my PIL filed in 1995, the Supreme Court had accepted that the carrying capacity of Nainital has been exhausted, but even after this, a lot of construction has taken place in the city till date.
Pressure of heavy vehicles and weakening hills
Nainital’s challenge is not limited to construction only. The increasing number of vehicles in the city has also become a big problem. The Supreme Court has earlier expressed concern about the movement of heavy vehicles on the Mall Road. On the other hand, pressure is continuously increasing on the hills of the city. In the last few years, incidents of landslides have increased in many areas of the city, which makes it clear that the mountains are now losing their natural strength.
Responsibility of citizens is also important
Professor Rawat believes that merely raising questions on the government or administration is not enough. The citizens of the city will also have to be alert about its future. He said that if Nainital has to be kept safe for the coming generations, then everyone needs to think together about what kind of development we need. In such a situation, the question arises whether the construction being done in the name of beautification will really make the city beautiful, or will it gradually erase its real identity?
