Tattapani - A Tragic Termination

Tattapani - A Tragic Termination

In a state as vast and beautiful as Himachal Pradesh, it is no doubt that its main driver of economy is Tourism. Something that gives employment to its plenty of educated but unemployed youth. It also provides to its people, some semblance of entrepreneurship in the form of Hotels, Highway eateries, Mom and Pop stores particularly at the tourist haunts.

One of the facts that need to be highlighted about the state is that it attained complete electrification in the year 1988, a goal which is yet to be achieved by plenty of other Indian states. Now, whatever the state will achieve in this front i.e. electricity production will be purely for the revenue purpose which may or may not have welfare of its aspiring population at its core.

It has been one week since the Kol Dam on river Sutlej in the Mandi & Bilaspur district has become operational with 4 x 200 MW production of electricity from it. And this very endeavour has led to the submergence of the Hot Water Springs in Tattapani. It will consequently lead to foreclosure of Hotels, eateries on the road side and little bit of employment that the tourist influx managed to generate in this area.

The state Himachal Pradesh has scored exceptionally high in areas such as education, healthcare, poverty and other human development indicators. But the only front that the state has not lived up to its expectations is in providing employment to its aspiring population. The Kol dam project flies on the face of the employment generation especially when the electricity thus produced will neither be consumed in the state nor it will help in reducing the electricity tariffs.

A visit to Tattapani these days is heart rendering now especially when you are not able to locate the once majestic hot water springs or the picturesque Shiva Caves (both submerged under the still waters of Sutlej). The sullen faces of small time shopkeepers near these places reflect that they are still coming to terms with the fact that their livelihoods have been snatched from them. The once flourishing economy of a self -sufficient tiny place has been reduced to rubble now. All these people, now will be dependent on the unemployment doles from the Government which in a way defeats the entire purpose of generating revenue out of selling electricity.

Mahatma Gandhi in his Talisman stated, “Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man [woman] whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him [her]. Will he [she] gain anything by it? Will it restore him [her] to a control over his [her] own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to Swaraj [freedom] for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and yourself melt away."

In similar vein, the utility of this endeavour can be gauged particularly when weighed against the necessities of life that the people of this place require which will help them in living a dignified life.

We are not here to suggest ways and means to resurrect the economy of Tattapani or elucidate about the alternate employment opportunities available to the people now rendered jobless. But it is simply an outpouring which goes out to those people who are still waiting for tourists to come at their door step and make their wait in the sun a bit more worthwhile.

Tattapani – the place which was the main attraction of people for its Hot Water Springs not only from its neighbouring areas such as Sunni, Basantpur, Shimla, Karsog but also across India is nothing but – A BUS STOP NOW and the people living there or nearby are nothing but - HOUSE POORS.