“Moribund Governance”
(मृतप्राय शासन; a government that is not active or successful to govern)
The Ghaziabad disaster (आपदा; an event that results in great damages or deaths) underscores (रेखांकित करना; to underline) the need for regular audit of civic projects
Even to those familiar with the anarchy (अव्यवस्था/अराजकता; a situation in which there is no organization and control, especially in society, because there is no effective government) that characterises India’s public spaces, the collapse of a newly-built shelter in a crematorium (मसान/शवदाह गृह; a building where dead people's bodies are burned, usually as part of a funeral ceremony) in Muradnagar, in U.P.’s Ghaziabad district, killing at least 24 people, is a shock.
A group attending a funeral sheltered from rain in the structure, when its roof crumbled (टूटना/चूर-चूर होना; to break, or cause something to break, into small pieces). The deaths and injuries have left families distraught (परेशान; extremely worried, nervous, or upset). Since women are not part of funeral rites in crematoria (plural of crematorium), they came to know of the fate (à¤ाग्य; a power that some people believe causes and controls all events, so that you cannot change or control the way things will happen) of the men much later.
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A token solatium (मुआवजा/हरजाना; something, for example money, that is given to someone to make them feel better when they have suffered in some way) has been announced by the U.P. government for the next of kin (निकटतम संबंधी; the person or group of people you are most closely related to) of the dead and relief measures for others, but the loss of breadwinners (कमाने वाले/पालनकर्त्ता; the member of a family who earns the money that the family needs) who were in low-paying jobs has left the family members destitute (बेसहारा/बदहाली; without money, food, a home, or possessions).
The State has shown great alacrity (तत्परता; speed and eagerness) in arresting four people including a junior engineer, besides the contractor, citing (हवाला देना; to mention something as proof or as a reason why something has happened) culpable homicide (आपराधिक मानववध; the crime of killing someone or causing their death, but not intentionally), causing hurt and endangering (खतरे में डालना; to put someone or something at risk or in danger) lives.
There are indications that it may use the National Security Act against some of the accused. Such measures cannot produce consistent improvement to governance, but the Yogi Adityanath government’s favoured image is that of strong enforcement (लागू करना; the process of making people obey a law or rule), which it has sought to demonstrate time and again by shooting down in ‘encounters’ those with a criminal record.
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That approach can do little to improve U.P.’s standing. The Ghaziabad disaster is clearly the product of a system that lacks transparency and audits, and does not yield to quick fixes or measures meant to aid (साधन/सहायता; help or support) deterrence (निवारण; to prevent or discourage someone from doing something).
Every year, the monsoon extracts a penalty in the form of collapsed buildings in several States. Just over three years ago, several people died when part of a bus stand caved (ढहना; fall in or fall down) in near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.
Appalled by (स्तब्ध/चकित; having strong feelings of shock or disapproval) the 41 deaths in a building disaster at Bhiwandi, Maharashtra in September last year, the Bombay High Court framed questions for municipal authorities, including the basic premise (मूल आधार; fundamental statement or proposition from which another is inferred): are those in authority completely helpless in preventing the collapse of structures and stopping the loss of life?
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The court also emphasised that citizens have a right to live in safe buildings and environment, within the meaning of Article 21. What happened in Ghaziabad is particularly deplorable (निंदनीय/दयनीय; extremely bad), as the cremation ground is an essential facility, and entirely within the ambit (दायरा/क्षेत्र; the range or limits of the influence of something) of public authorities to maintain.
There are suggestions that the structure was poorly designed, lacking stability due to use of inferior (घटिया/तुच्छ; not as good as someone or something else) materials, while the contractor had several projects assigned to him in the district. These and other charges, including favouritism (पक्षपात/तरफ़दारी; unfair support shown to one person or group, especially by someone in authority) involving politicians, are best probed by an independent judicial member.
Mr. Adityanath should realise that U.P., a laggard (सुस्त; someone or something that is very slow) on many development metrics, can transform itself only through rule of law and efficient implementation of public projects. The horror of Muradnagar should impel (प्रेरित करना/धकेलना; to make someone feel that they must do something) his government to act.
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