THE LAKE NOT LACKING IN AESTHETICS! Sometimes one feels happy and satisfied after visiting a tourist spot. But it’s not always that all people return from such a place happy and contented for some reasons or the other. As my family and I returned from the famous Geykar Sinyi many questions cropped up in my dull mind. In fact, there more questions than answers. We all are aware that this magnificent Lake is the only place in the periphery of the capital Itanagar where the physically and mentally weary residents of the noisy and polluted city can go and enjoy the quiet ambiance and relish the Mother Nature’s bountiful gifts. With not many places for the visiting tourists to visit in and around the capital city, this wonderful Lake provides succour for the tourists to get lost in the wilderness away from life’s humdrum and monotony. Moreover, many Nyishi folktales like the popular Tai Bida and his mithuns are associated with Geykar Sinyi. These legends enhance the importance and significance of Geykar Sinyi. Having heard so much about the Geykar Sinyi, I took my wife and children there. Personally, I feel calling Geykar Sinyi, Ganga Lake is a misnomer and irrelevant. However, I found many things which should not be found in an important tourist spot like the Geykar Sinyi. I was enamoured and charmed by the serene surroundings, the virgin forests the stillness of the ambiance and the familiar calls of the insects and some birds. I was left awestruck by the silent Lake, which may have a thousand stories to tell but cannot express, as the benevolent Creator has not gifted it with words. The Lake wanted to convey to me many wonderful tales of the distant past but it could not. But being an avid lover of Nature I could imagine many things. I could even see a number of toko plants [palm leaf trees] thanks to the generous droppings of the kindly birds. However, a number of corrective measures need to be initiated by all of us as Geykar Sinyi is our precious asset. We must thank HE the Governor and the pragmatic and people’s HCM for the keen interest they are showing to improve the Lake to make it a numero uno tourist spot in Itanagar. But sadly, it’s the citizens who lack a total civic sense and break all the rules with impunity. They are always ready to litter and spoil a beautiful place like Geykar Sinyi. It is observed that some parts of the concrete pathway have been broken and railings at many places have broken. Many trees have also fallen down which are left unattended. I was appalled to see that many of the watchtowers or the waiting sheds are in a ramshackle condition. They need to be repaired at an early date before they are damaged further. Most importantly, there are no restaurants, coffee bars or other recreational centres around the magnificent Lake. The children’s park has been shabbily made with the sheds sans any aesthetics. More local huts with an ethnic touch and locally available materials should be constructed. RCC buildings are a no no. However, what sent my head go for a real spin was when I discovered two used cartridges casually thrown away by the side of the footpath. This is indicative of the fact that poachers are lurking in the precinct of the great Lake. We were greeted by some goats that happily fed on the plants painstakingly planted by the management. I saw a number of boats. However, when I asked a staff there if there were trained boatmen, his answer was in the negative. It is rather strange that the visitors are asked to do boating at their own risk. This is a serious recipe for disaster. Some experts or trained boatmen should be stationed to help the visitors. The entry fees for the visitors and the camera are also too high. Even to see the magnificent Taj Mahal, the tourists are charged hardly Rs 20 per person. Having said that the visitors must be disciplined and understand the importance of protecting the environment. Our people are very good at littering a place. I saw everything that is an eyesore like empty bottles, plastic glasses, wrappers and what have you? It is imperative to construct dustbins around the Lake and there should be people to dispose off the garbage. The forests around the Lake should be left alone. No activities like collection of firewood, bamboo shoot should be allowed. Here, the citizens have more responsibilities than the government. Our citizens are very good at blaming the government and the HCM. My pertinent question is, what are you doing? I join former American President John F. Kennedy who said, “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.” This Lake is a great asset for the state and no effort should be spared to ensure that the Lake is maintained properly. More innovative things should be introduced to give the Lake a pride of place in the state. [The writer is DIPRO, Tirap who has written as a visitor.
Posted on: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 06:47:40 +0000
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