Some progress that!

Update 1: oops, i forgot to mention the most important in the list of to-dos. We should first stop dumping in the water bodies, esp by the govt bodies themselves.
Update 2: some one reminded me of another important feat wasnt mentioned here. I would do that only after that activity is completed. as this involves a govt body, i cant count the chick now.

Regulars here know my passion for water bodies and the attempt to restore one big lake near my house on the south Madras suburbs. I have been involved in trying to wrest this lake from human and official apathy..it has been one hell of a running around..I did write about it here and here. So from the collector to the PWD officials to local authorities to locals (affected citizens) it was pure apathy..
But don’t u think something should rub on after meeting with so many good souls..
The PWD which is the official stake holder in this was my target. They are, infact, for all huge lakes (> 100 acres ones). The top bureaucrat an IAS officer and one of the top executives were very receptive (that is after some 50 fones and 10 tries to meet in person). Still for someone to move in a positive and enviro sympathetic direction is such a rarity these days. Now we slowly tried and moved the dept to take cognizance of the problem and to move towards a solution.
For someone who wants to wrest a water body, here is a to do list:
- involve locals heavily. Sensitise, then take some signature campaign and circulate to collector, localbodies, local bigwigs, dept’s biggies to locals, all and sundry. (on seeing lotsa signatures people assume theres a big junta behind, where as most people will only sign and think that’s the best they can do)
- Keep moving the copies of the petition everywhere
- Meet the media and there are some eco friendly guys out there(though rare) who may write about the present state. (some column lines for them!)
- A set of core volunteers who can incessantly push for this ca(u)se
- Identify a couple of officers who can really take some steps. Then bombard them with info and ideas and shower praises till they catch cold and make them move.
- Once they show some inclination, take initiative and rush lots more steps in all directions possible and without antagonizing any of the govt bodies (but making them all feel they are doing it actually) and continue at a pace they will all just watch or before they react there should be a fair amount of movement.
- Now when we have done the initial repairs and some progress in a the 1st few of our “must do” list, now go back and slowly push the rest to each of the govt arm and goad them to proceed.
Here in our lake we are in this last step..so more on that later.
Normally iam very conservative esp in evaluation of my own achievement. I tend to underplay my role and accomplishments. But this is one rare occasion I felt, hey u did something buddy! Pat pat..seriously am tired.
Lemme go and celebrate
or rest?