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Mussoorie losing its charm
by Ashish Goel

          Mussoorie: Mussoorie, called the queen of hills, in the foothills of the Himalayan ranges, is fast losing its reputation. A favourite with honeymooners from across the country because of its easy access, Mussoorie is facing difficulties because of water shortage and traffic snarls. Tourists blame the local administration for not doing enough to solve the problems. Viresh Kumar, a tourist from Delhi, says: "We could not find a parking place for one-and a-half-hours after reaching the city. We managed to check in at a hotel, but found that the water was not fit to drink. We had to depend on bottled water available in the market" Nirmal Jain a visitor from Kolkata, complained: "Water here smells like alcohol. It is frustrating to buy mineral water every hour. Traffic menace is also a big problem here. I don't think I will come here ever again with family." Officials admit that Mussoorie is facing water problems and vehicles are crowding the roads. They confess that they have no resources to provide adequate relief. Rakesh Kumar, District Magistrate, Dehradun, who is responsible for the administration in Mussoorie, says:" There are jams and to avoid them we have made one-way routes. The water supply available here is not sufficient to meet even half the demand." Located at an average altitude of 2,000 meters (6,600 feet from the sea level), Mussoorie, with its green hills and varied flora and fauna, has been a popular hill resort. Known for its gaiety and merry-making during the summer, Mussoorie has no steep inclines. The more adventurous can undertake enjoyable excursions to many beauty spots in the vicinity.
- June 7,  2007