Is Uma Bharti helpless ?

Is Uma  Bharti  helpless  ?

She is Cabinet Minister for Water Resources / River Development / Ganga Rejuvenation

Immediately after taking over in May 2014 , she launched " Swatchh  Ganga " project

After struggling for past 19 months , Ganga continues to be as polluted as before

As it flows through the Northern States , thousands of factories continue to dump their untreated chemical effluents into it , despite laws prohibiting this

And hundreds of cities / towns , continue to discharge  their untreated sewage into it

I am sure , if she were to read following news report in Business Line ( 26 Dec 2015 ) , she would want to cry in anguish and even wonder :

"  Of course , democracy is a wonderful thing - provided

   *  MPs / MLAs server the interests of the people who elected them , whether they are in party of power or sitting in the opposition 

   *  And the government officers / police were to enforce whatever laws exist and book the offenders, without fear or favor ( no " parrot in the cage " syndrome )

   *  And the Courts hear the cases and pass orders on the same day ( no dates )

But , if none of this is likely to happen in a democracy , can I have the powers of the Chinese Ministry of Environment Protection , which :

#  Received 12,369 telephonic complaints

#  Inspected 14 lakh companies between Jan - Sept ( 5091 per day )

#  Ordered 28,600 companies to suspend their operations ( 102 per day )

#  Shut down 17,000 polluting industries  ( 61 per day )

#  Found 46,800 companies discharging pollutants

#  Discovered 63,700 companies involved in illegal constructions  "

It is time citizens of India asked themselves :

"  To 480 million BPL ( below poverty line ) people of India , what matters more ,

    *  Right to vote / select , MPs / MLAs , once in 5 years ,  or

    *  Freedom from hunger and freedom from pollution / diseases ?

For a solution , read my blog " ROMP - a panacea ? " at www.hemenparekh.in

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hemen  parekh

26  Dec  2015