Appeasing the Jal devtas
Sandip C Jain

The power of liquid can never be underestimated- whether it be Petrol or Diesel or alcohol or whatever- each of it has the potential of becoming a mover and shaker of local, national and international politics.
George W. Bush (both senior and junior) fueled by petrol have led America to semi destruction. Boris Yelstin fueled by alcohol led to the total destruction of the Russian influence on the world. All due to a liquid- in whatever form it may be!!!
Now, we in India, specifically in the Darjeeling Hills and more specifically in Kalimpong are out to destruct ourselves for another form of liquid- WATER- which though a life giving and life sustaining substance also has a track record of being a life threatening and life taking one. In fact wise men all over the world brand water to be the most volatile form of all liquids and forecast that the world one day would reshape itself only for water or rather for the lack of it. They suggest that the next Great War would have water as its central agenda.
Back home- whether from the Senchal Lake or the Neora Valley, the fact remains that water running down our taps is drying faster that one can actually collect it. The only thing faster, in this sad watery tale, probably is the Jal Devtas (Water Gods) lining their pockets with their ill-gotten gains out of the flourishing illegal water tapping business.
Recent efforts in Kalimpong to weed out illegal water connections fetched a naught- authorities claiming that only five illegal connections could be plugged out of the above a hundred identified between Algarah & Deolo Reservoir. Now they say that there is no harm in regularizing all illegally tapped lines- Noble thoughts indeed but doesn’t this sound more like a rapist being asked to marry his victim??? First the crime committed then the reward received, both by the same person!!! Ahem!!!
Several years back a study conducted by some central government agency on the water problem in Kalimpong suggested in its report that- now hear this- “There is no water shortage in Kalimpong, only a mal-distribution of water” which makes our case one of the “Haves” and Have Nots” i.e. “having water” and “not having water” – some having enough to water their gardens and fields and some not having enough even to drink or clean!!!
The struggle between the haves and have nots have shaped the world down the ages. Let’s hope the struggle does not make an appearance in our case here…