The City With The Lost Charm
Recently, we the residents of the Doon Valley have begun to observe sudden changes in the climatic conditions of “our once a small, peaceful town” , which has now grown into a major city. This according to me is the direct consequence of the global climatic change showing its impact worldwide. It is a pain to know that this deadly phenomenon has finally gripped our beloved town.
We have noticed that this year Dehradun faced abnormally hot and dry summers. There was a time in Doon when even fans were not used by the residents of our town , but the situation today is pathetic. Life, today, is impossible without the use of air conditioners and coolers. Till the previous year, i.e. 2008, we experienced a few light showers even in May and June, but this year the summer was totally dry. Further, the monsoons always used to be in Doon by the end of June, however this year they were not here even by the middle of July. And now when the monsoons are finally here, there has been abnormally high rain, severely affecting the city’s drainage system.
The once “A clean and green town” of Dehradun has gradually transformed into a concrete jungle, with the growth of sky rising buildings and rampant deforestation for construction. The town has lost all its charm with the disappearance of all our mango and litchi orchards and the green cover that once surrounded our town. When you get out on the streets, it feels as if you are in a mini metropolis. Development has taken place, but at the cost of the environment.
Ruskin Bond has written a lot about Dehra, however it is difficult to find any similarity between “his Doon” and today’s Doon. It is now the time to react to the situation and understand our responsibility as residents of the Doon Valley. The biggest driving force, in this regard is we students. If we get together and make people around us aware about environmental changes, then surely we can expect a change in the society. Let’s now stop talking and get to work. The simplest thing to do is to plant as many trees as possible. The only thing that is needed is effort from our side and positive response from our fellow people. Let’s entrust ourselves with “eco-friendly duties” and act together to restore the old, beautiful charm of our city, the one Ruskin Bond has all talked about.
(Naman Khanduri is a student of Class IX, St. Joseph’s Academy,DehraDun. He is a great nature lover)
e-mail: namankhanduri@gmail.com.
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