Basak The prominent print media representative ‘The Hitavada’ has raised a pertinent scenario of panic by the citizens and silent mode of leadership prevailing in Nagpur city. Any good distribution system will survive if it is supported equally by citizenry, leadership and bureaucracy. The present scenario of panic buying of petroleum products by over anxious citizens reflects the non-proactive approach of leadership. The print media is continuously raising the issue supported by repeated appeals by the bureaucracy. But the sad part is nowhere the leadership of grassroots level corporators and higher echelon level city bigwigs have made themselves available and proactive to reduce the over-anxious state of citizenry.

 

When bureaucracy prevails over leadership, it makes blunders such as major flaw in Kawarapeth flyover near Shanti Nagar, misusing public exchequer to install vertical gardens etc. and adopts cosmetic approach for repairs of city roads, renovation of vital city lakes etc. The dormant leadership is not helping the citizens to come out of the panic state of mind. The present situation is a testing time for citizenry, leadership and bureaucracy. The false belief of citizens to secure themselves with tank full vehicles, keeping reserve LPG cylinders will not serve any purpose in long run if the international war situation is not defused. The leadership, on their part, should not confine them in silent mode and should come out openly in support of bureaucracy to build trust in the existing distribution system. The bureaucracy should take more assertive measures for the safety and running of systems. Unless the citizenry, leadership and bureaucracy work in tandem, the present situation will progress from bad to worse.

 

Vijay Phanshikar the learned man of our city Nagpur has rightly pinpointed the insanely behaviour of the people of Nagpur for the fuels through his column ‘Footloose in Nagpur’ which appeared in City line on March 26. What bothered me most in his thought-provoking article are the lines he has written in the end where he writes, if our society gets stricken by panic so easily, then how will it behave in case a bigger crisis or emergency hits the city? His apprehension might come true if the war between US, Israel and Iran continues for a longer period. Who would have thought that the war between Ukraine and Russia will drag on for years. It appears that at this moment even if the Almighty God comes from the heavens and tell the mobs to calm down and behave properly they will not listen to him. I pray to God that the war ends immediately and the situation doesn't get murkier.