#SaveTigerHill: Any Construction at Tiger Hill is Awful

#SaveTigerHill: Any Construction at Tiger Hill is Awful

Writes: Premanjali

Tiger Hill is the abode of our presiding deity, and it is for Her blessings that we feel safe and protected. It is also for the same blessings that gives me the strength to now protect Her (place)... to show solidarity for the cause of saving a part of our own motherland.

Forest clearings in any place, be it a flat terrain or as a cross section of our mountains is absolutely deplorable. They have serious repercussions which are sufficient to damage our ecosystem substantially. Amongst all, loss of wildlife habitat directly and indirectly (from fragmentation) is bound to happen. In the face of pollution, the adjacent water body (#Sinchel lake) is most likely to be affected. Sedimentation of the lake from construction washings is also probable.

Apart from damage to the aquatic ecology, the quality of potable water supplied to the local people will be in question as Sinchel lake is the sole natural water supply to the town people at large. I hope this ain't a clandestine move from the govt. but has an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study been conducted which mandates public participation? So what the locals say must be heard!

If the govt. really wants to bring up developmental projects in the hills, why target tourism in a protected area? There are much important issues in the hills which need to be taken care of in the name of development. Darjeeling is already a tourist destination and the idea of dotting the hills with fancy cottages is just obsolete in the need of the hour!!!