Bambous, the village where I live. I was born here. Here, I spent my childhood in the hut in the laps of my parents and grand parents. I still remember the heat, the wind and the rain. I kept awake a whole night of 1945, the night of storm, under the wood-framed bed. The roof raised and fell under the pressure of the wind. My parents sat down and stood up at the rhythm of the roof - up and down, up and down - like the movement of the accordion player.

The storm went away after two or three days. The gust had gone down. The sky was still grey and black. Water pools and mud were found everywhere. The majority of the huts had fallen. Our hut that was built in the enclosure of stone-wall had got light damage. The roof was snatched by the violent gust.

Fruits, flowers, leaves and branches were all heaped up under the trees? trunks. Birds, animals and insects were all as if hibernated in the caves and holes. There was everywhere sights of desolation and disaster. The environment had lost its gaiety, as all the flowers and shrubs had been torned off.

After two days, the sun appeared. The odour of rotten fruits and flowers polluted the atmosphere. Though every body helped in the cleaning activities, other problems cropped up. The heavy rain had created streams and springs everywhere. Stagnation of water in the ponds and the accumulation of rain water in strayed utensils and bottles started to pollute the environment. All these materials became nuisance and hot bed for mosquitoes. There was an outbreak of diseases, mainly the malaria. The environment became sultry, stuffy. Many people left the wet land and muddy environment. The sanitary officers and the malaria workers sprayed D.D.T. Also, other pests and diseases control was used, but they had no quick effect. People of Bambous suffered a lot and they developed complicated diseases ? swollen cheeks and big bellies, very thin arms and fingers, very weak thighs and limps. At that time, the people of Bambous, children and young people were very easily recognised in a crowed - a pale and sick complexion.

Today, half a century has elapsed. The situation and condition of life have changed. Housing accesses and paths, lights and water have been supplied. Conveyance facilities have been developed.

Bambous, an area of 25 km, has gained the status of a village. That has taken 80 years, still the major problems of this residential area is the sanitation and the living condition of the residents. When public accesses and streets are cleansed, the rain and storm drains are unattended and obstructed. Rivers, rivulets and reservoirs are covered with grass and water lettuces.

The atmosphere and the environment, very important elements of the nature that contribute to the good health of the villagers, become impure. There is nobody to look after the polluting factors. The local administrators, the Health Inspectors and the Police of Environment, care very little about the well being of the inhabitants.

All of them together have helped the growth of a savage development. Small industries and trades have installed in every nook and corner of the residential areas. They have not respected the norms and regulations that protect the neighbors. They have granted permits and green light to trade and commerce that spread odour and smell of greasy and oily substances, food mine frire and douri fire, samousa and gateau deluile that cause the problem of breathing. Often, it harms the living condition of the next neighbors and cause sickness and death.

The village is actually going through an anarchy. The local government is granting permits without considering the rights of close neighbors. The health officers and the Environment police help the trader or the business operators. They ignore the neighbors, the first say : ?We are measuring the amount of TOXIN present in the air.?

This attitude of the authority today has led to the DEATH of a young Engineer a couple of months ago. In Bambous, on the whole, there is only one spot on the Royal Road vis-a-vis the Hindu Temple, in the north and in the middle two snacks operators are polluting the air around. The neighbors are complaining since 2005. The complaints fall in deaf ears, of fools and foolish officers who cast the blame of the Ministers. It?s the order of the boss.

G. RUNGOO