star.gif (2664 bytes)A Down To Earth Supplement
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Kalimpong, September 26-29, 2000
Gobar means animal dung in Hindi. All of rural India uses it in a variety of ways. Ways that exemplify sustainable existence. That's why we use it, too.

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Namaste,

Have you ever stood in a queue for water and got late for school?   Or does the stench from the garbage strewn all over give you a terrible headache?  Or in the monsoon months do you have to jump around the market trying to avoid wetting your shoes in the puddles and sewage from overflowing drains?  If yes, you must read this issue of GT.  During a four-day expedition around Kalimpong town, young GT correspondents scanned the town and came up with startling facts.  They realised that the problem in Kalimpong is not of ignorance, but inaction.

I, Pandit Gobar Ganesh, and the Kalimpong GT team hope the few facts we have placed before you will awaken you and motivate you to make Kalimpong a better place not just for ourselves but our children too.

Panditji on behalf of the Kalimpong Gobar Times  editorial team.

 

No Water 
Too Much Waste!
Car Smoke!

Playing Ping-Pong
with Kalimpong's environment

These are the environmental problems that the citizens of Kalimpong have to deal with.  The people blame the government.  The government, in turn, blames the people.

‘Water! Water everywhere, but not a drop to drink’.  This saying really suits the town of Kalimpong.  There are enough water sources. But does anyone want to tap them?  Through reliable sources we learnt that the government had sanctioned Rs.47 crore for the Neora Valley Drinking Water Project to alleviate the problem. But seven years later, what has happened?  The answer is simple.  The mismanagement and bad planning on the part of the government has failed to quench the people’s thirst.  Another fact is that despite the fact that there are dharas near our homes where there is more than enough water, why do we prefer direct pipelines and take the share of those who don’t even have water to cook?  Is it not being selfish?

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Then there is the problem of waste. We the citizens are blaming the municipality and the municipality. in turn, is blaming us. One of the staff members of the municipality complained about the lack of cooperation from the people who do not use the dustbins.  He informed us proudly that all his staff members dispose waste properly. How can we believe this when there is a heap of garbage lying at the side of the same office? Who is actually responsible for the waste?  Can’t this problem be solved by working together and understanding each other’s responsibility?

There is the problem of vehicles also.  Everyone expects the pleasure of having their own cars. But has anyone bothered to think about the consequences of such desires leading to uncontrolled traffic and pollution? 

These problems are not only of Kalimpong town, but also of rest of India and indeed the whole world.  Please help us to make this world a better place for you and for us and the entire human race.