[Assam] [WaterWatch] Digest Number 1469

[Chan Mahanta]

>2b. Re: High Drug levels in Indian streams
    > Posted by: "mandira agarwal" mandira_nk at yahoo.com
     >Date: Sun Feb 1, 2009 1:51 am ((PST))

>Dear friends,
>It brings no surprises, all our streams and water bodies have been 
>taken for granted and we all as >individuals and as communities dump 
>our waste and garbage into it.
>The industries are  owned by us - "we the people" , the planning 
>and  execution is done by us "we the >people" and we are also 
>governed by "we the people"..
>So how do "we the people" save or redeem the situation, a situation 
>being created by  "we the people".


>So there is something wrongs with our basics......and the 
>developmental planning processes.


**** I would agree that there is something wrong with the 'basics'. 
But is it the 'dev. pl'ng. process? Or something more fundamental?


I would submit, the premise that "--we the people" are "responsible" 
for ALL that goes on is a profoundly faulty one.  EVERYONE is NOT 
guilty. Only SOME are.


The claim that the government is 'by the people and for the people' 
is little more than an eyewash, a propaganda to justify, perpetuate 
and validate the unchangeable and dysfunctional state of governance. 
One needs only a cursory look at the processes for making it and the 
quality of its institutions to know that this 'govt. of the people 
and by the people'  could not be farther from the truth, never mind 
the INTENT, even if it is  all noble, that is .


How long has it been since the national discourse has been swamped by 
the lack of accountability in governance ? Would I be wrong to 
suggest that it has been over a quarter century?  What have we seen 
done to correct this problem? And whatever has been claimed to have 
been done, how has it functioned? What are the improvements to show 
for? Is it working?


Why does one need accountability in governance to begin with? Is it a 
mere lust for vengeance to punish wrong-doing, retribution?


It must be but MORE than that. It is REQUIRED to serve as a deterrent 
for the future, to the would-be-wrongdoers, so that it is not 
repeated -- as we see happening at  Patancheru and everywhere else.


Since there is no accountability, there is no way to deter 
wrong-doers. The cliche' "sab-chalta-hai"  is a direct result of this 
profound failure of governance and an implied  RESIGNATION of the 
people to the condition.


Why is there resignation?  Obviously because people think and believe 
that the condition is unchangeable, that there is no recourse, and 
that they are  powerless to do anything about it.


Is it true?


If so why?


And if it is NOT true, what is holding back the drivers of this so 
called 'govt. of the people and by the people'  from CHANGING  it ?


Questions to ponder and do a something about, isn't it?


cm












>Waste and garbage cannot be wished away, all value addition to raw 
>feed generates mountains of  >waste, in the processing cycle only a 
>fraction of raw inputs  are converted to useable value 
>added >products.
>Drug concentration in water bodies or pesticides/insecticides in 
>milk or cold drinks are part of the >same story.
>Codes may be existing or may not be available but what about the 
>enforcement mechanism? Does it >exist and function what it is 
>supposed to do?
 
>thnks
>nk agarwal