This morning I noticed that the nilgais had paid my tiny garden a visit. The papaya leaves had all been eaten off (it is safe to assume that they will not get dengue) and the hibiscus had been partly eaten up. I am quite sure that they will pay a visit in the next couple of days to finish up the hibiscus. I gave the news to my mother and told her that there will be no flowers for the next few weeks for her puja.
When one looks at the old photos of the campus, one realizes how much has changed. In the 70s this was a barren land. When the university set up its base here, and people started moving in, they also started planting trees. Today the entire campus is covered with trees. Many of them are not the native flora of this region but never mind...it is green. So green, in fact, that most of the campus has been declared as forest area and therefore, protected land. If we want to build anything, we have to get clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forest. So the administration proposed two hostels and an extension to an academic building. The ministry shot it down. Last heard, we got it approved through the PMO.
The best bet would be to actually demolish the old houses and hostels and build new ones in that site. We do not have any policy of maintenance, and therefore, many of the houses and hostels are in horrible condition. I really have no idea how the students manage to live in the old hostels. To me, they are little better than slums. However, I understand that there is money to build new hostels and new homes but not to rebuild the old ones.
That brings in with direct conflict with nature- the one that we have assiduously built over the years. Do we destroy it in our quest to expand? We will not only lose the green cover but also the nilgais, different species of birds, snakes, mongoose, civet cats and the rare fox that have made their home in the campus, enriching our lives. Where else in the city can we live in such close proximity with the wild?
I realize that there are no answers to such questions. The only thing to do is to enjoy what is available and never mind the nilgais.
When one looks at the old photos of the campus, one realizes how much has changed. In the 70s this was a barren land. When the university set up its base here, and people started moving in, they also started planting trees. Today the entire campus is covered with trees. Many of them are not the native flora of this region but never mind...it is green. So green, in fact, that most of the campus has been declared as forest area and therefore, protected land. If we want to build anything, we have to get clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forest. So the administration proposed two hostels and an extension to an academic building. The ministry shot it down. Last heard, we got it approved through the PMO.
The best bet would be to actually demolish the old houses and hostels and build new ones in that site. We do not have any policy of maintenance, and therefore, many of the houses and hostels are in horrible condition. I really have no idea how the students manage to live in the old hostels. To me, they are little better than slums. However, I understand that there is money to build new hostels and new homes but not to rebuild the old ones.
That brings in with direct conflict with nature- the one that we have assiduously built over the years. Do we destroy it in our quest to expand? We will not only lose the green cover but also the nilgais, different species of birds, snakes, mongoose, civet cats and the rare fox that have made their home in the campus, enriching our lives. Where else in the city can we live in such close proximity with the wild?
I realize that there are no answers to such questions. The only thing to do is to enjoy what is available and never mind the nilgais.
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