Way out

Way out

So, is there any way the islands can be saved while maintaining the ecological balance of this unique mangrove system? The problems of human habitation in this region are so complex that it seems there is no definitive answer. When these lands were initially cleared of forests and settled, no one took into account the fact that the islands were prone to inundation twice a day during high tides. To combat this flooding and to prevent saline water from entering their fields, the early settlers built 35,000 km of crude mud embankments along the islands' perimeters. But these bunds, no matter how high you build them, are neither ecologically sound (they block siltation and hamper the normal land formation process) nor foolproof. During cyclonic storms, crashing waves easily breach the loosely packed walls, and on any given day, strong underwater currents quietly and steadily erode the slopes and foundations of the embankments causing large sections of it to suddenly crumble into the sea.In fact, most breaches are caused by these underwater currents, which can't be controlled.

Open system
Which is why Tushar Kanjilal advocates the 'open system' option. Though not a permanent solution either, this more organic system involves regular monitoring of physical developments in and around the islands and initiating natural defence mechanisms. Kanjilal, a Padma Shree recipient who's spent over three decades working on rural development in the Sunderbans, says the key to combating this natural phenomenon is not by creating artificial barriers, but rather understanding the system and working in harmony with it. "The efficacy of the 'Open System' is dependent on an improved data base relating to tidal regimes, impact of water flows in the Sunderbans waterways and the accumulation and erosion of silt deposits," Kanjilal writes in his book Who Killed the Sunderbans? "It's useless to spend money repairing the embankments while ignoring the root cause of their weaknesses," he says. The only viable solution, he says, is to push the existing embankments further inland and build ring embankments around the islands with mud still the primary raw material and supplement this with mangrove plantations along the riverbanks to arrest and hold silt down.

Tushar Kanjilal has been awarded the Padma Shree for 30 years of work in the Sunderbans. He rubbishes the state government's embryonic disaster management and development plans. The only way islands can be saved, he says, is by understanding natural forces and working in harmony with them through what he calls an 'open system'

Hazra suggests enforcing the coastal regulatory zone stipulation of barring habitation within a distance of 500 metres from the coast and instituting "informed retreat" of inhabitants from vulnerable zones. "Of course, for this the administration will have to first admit that this is happening, but to date there has been no official recognition of the state of the crisis the Sunderbans's inhabitants face," he says.

Sunderbans affairs minister Kanti Ganguly, however, seems ready to take Hazra for his word, even though he hasn't seen the jusos report. "It is definitely not possible to relocate so many people. We will consult the oceanography department about what to do and whatever environment protection is possible will be tried," he told Down To Earth. Ganguly also said he would ask Union minister in charge of ocean development Kapil Sibal to provide expertise to tackle the situation.

For all these measures to be effective, participation of the local people is crucial. Which again brings in the role of education and the need to provide the basic needs of people, such as energy supply, healthcare and livelihood options. As long as these needs are not met people will continue to cut trees and mangroves for firewood and to make money.

"We have found education plays a great role in disaster management, but though the official literacy rate in this region is high, so is the drop-out ratio after Class V," says Rajashree Dasgupta, a research fellow at jusos who is part of the climate change research team."There's virtually no enrolment of children between six to 14 years. So people here may be technically literate, but they are not educated." Though every block has a government hospital, most of them lack adequate equipment, staff and medicines. The health system is so poor on most of these islands that the state has had to hook up with local ngos to provide mobile health services.

Castles in the air
While the state is yet to formulate an action plan on island erosion and refugee rehabilitation, the Sunderban Development Board, on the recommendation of international consultancy firm McKinsey, is investing Rs 650 crore on the overall development of the region.

The entire sum is being provided by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development and will be utilised to construct 23 bridges, 11 jetties and roads to connect far-flung islands to the mainland, develop market complexes, water supply systems, multipurpose cold storages, parks, community halls, bus terminuses and sports complexes. Work has already begun on 10 bridges. "Bridges are essential over some rivers like the Matla in Canning, which has no water during low tide," says Ganguly. Though the minister has given explicit assurances that all construction will be done "without disturbing the environment", many people are sceptical, especially when it comes to building bridges connecting shores that are constantly changing. Environmentalists also fear that sinking pillars in the riverbeds could change the direction of rivers.

Kanjilal offers another argument. "Any development initiative in the Sunderbans is pointless unless the fundamental problems that threaten its existence are addressed," he says. "Let them build bridges," Hazra adds, shrugging. "After five years they'll be building them again."

Changing frames
Hazra and Kanjilal are both pointing in the same direction. The problem is that for a couple of centuries no one has looked at the issue through the lens of the distinctive ecology of the Sunderbans. Few people have acknowledged that even in an 'unspoilt' state the region will be subject to the ineluctable pull of the tides. Thus the rivers will erode the land and the sea engulf it.

The more the ecological balance is disturbed locally, through the destruction of the mangroves, and globally, through climate change, the more precarious the situation is bound to get. With a conservation perspective coming into the frame over the past few decades some of these issues have become more important. Unfortunately, this framework has blanked out the people who have lived here for many generations and whose fundamental quest is survival in what indisputably, though precariously, is home to them. Which adds a further element of grim irony to the latest development plans for the Sunderbans. 12jav.net12jav.net