‘Sambhar, a historic salt town, needs revival’
Town Faces Problems Like Migration, Lack Of Opportunities and Mismanagement
Rachna Singh | TNN
Sambhar: You can’t have a single meal on your table without salt. But how many of us have ever taken a trip down to Sambhar to figure out how it is made. Possibly very few actually consume Sambhar Salt that beats some leading names in the private sector by being an ISO-certified salt. For it is only bulk supplied to the armed forces and co-operatives. According to a recent survey report prepared by Development and Research Organisation for Nature, Arts and Heritage (DRONAH) for Rajasthan State Museum and Monument Management and Development Society, Government of Rajasthan, “the historic town is facing serious problems such as migration of the younger generation, lack of economic opportunities and mismanagement of heritage resources. The present economic and environmental condition of the town require urgent intervention for its revival and preservation. The small town is marked by sealed, locked doors over long stretches, a phenomenon that has taken alarming proportions over the past few years. The report was part of the state government’s initiative to preserve and develop the rich heritage resources across the state to boost local economy. The focus was on tourism as it is an economic activity that may prove a catalyst in rejuvenating the town and help reverse the emigration trend due to lack of employment opportunities. The recent socio-economic trends reveal a negative growth. “Almost a third of Sambhar’s buildings lie unoccupied, especially inside the old town,”says the report. But once, “The place used to be throbbing with activity till salt production was privatized. It used to be a place where people used to come from all over the country for work opportunities. As a result even tourism used to be a thriving industry,” said M K Cotia estate officer, Sambhar Salts Ltd. According to Ram Saran a local resident, “In 1986 there was about 10ft water in the Devyani Kund. People used to actually do boating here. But today kids play cricket in the same kund.” Another problem is that now a lot of salt-extraction happens through wells and is not so labour-intensive.“There are about 100 illegal underground bore-wells with concealed pipelines stretching almost 12 km. Besides, one of the reasons why the lake went dry is that the government has made anicuts legal so villages have made their own little dams to control the free flow of water to the lake,” said R L Mathur general manager Sambhar Salts. For the past five years with no rain you could virtually drive on the largest salt lake of India that is producing thousands of tons of salt every year. And the neglect of the Sambhar is not just a cause of concern to the locals. Internet blogs on Sambhar also voice the concern. “Probably 50 years down the line, Sambhar story would look like a legend. Who can imagine a 190 sq km dry lake which is open for driving? You tell that to your grandkid and he would laugh it off. Go and look at it before it vanishes.” And for that reason among others, “As a small town strategically located on Jaipur-Ajmer highway of mythical, historical, natural and cultural significance, Sambhar is a classical example of how overexploitation, neglect and mismanagement of resources can bring a prosperous and affluent community on the verge of extinction,” the report states. A LOST LEGEND: Sealed and locked doors welcome you in Sambhar
