SAGAR ISLAND – TURNED TO A LAND OF SORROW.

Sunita Das

agar Island, famous for its natural beauty with acres of silver sand, clear blue sky and the calm sea ,situated at the estuary of the river

Hoogly .Behind the panoramic view of the spectacular beach, enjoyable enthralling dawn and dusk there lies stories of several environmental threats which are not apparently seen . Erosion, Cyclones, Tidal Surges and Flood are four major environmental hazards occurring continuously in this land area. The threats are very common to local people. But on July 14th an unexpected high tide has left a major portion of Sagar Island flooded, causing extensive damage to crops and destroying homes. Sudden inundation of sea water damaged thousands of houses, vast spread of agricultural field, destroyed wide range of Betel plantations. Thousands of livelihoods were killed instantly.

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Paribesh Unnayan Parishad (PUPA), an NGO, working in Sagar Island for last fifteen years and providing continuous support to the flood victims through the following action plans:

1. Distribution of salt tolerant paddy seeds.

2. Distribution of livestock.

3. Organized training programmes for farmers on “Organic Fertilizer”, “Efficient Farm Management Techniques”, “Sustainable Farming Practice”, “Mixed Cropping System”.

4. Short term skill development training programme on “Tailoring”, “Computer”, “Fruit & vegetable processing”, Electrical maintenance.

PUPA is trying to find out the long term solutions for a comparatively better future for inhabitants of sagar island.

Sk Rabiul Haque , founder of “Horti -Herbal Spices Farm”, doing continuous experiment to invent new techniques for efficient farm management, shouldered the responsibilities to impart training to the farmers. One of the experienced farmer from Rakkhas khali block ,Sri Ahoke Mohanti shared his experienced with the farmers. Emphasis was given on :

1. Choosing of seeds of food crops that are salt tolerant .

2. Planning for year round production.

3. Maintenance of seed inventory

4. Proper record keeping.

5. Use of vermin compost to get a better yield.

In a Farmer’s Training Programme: Sk Rabiul Haque & the president of PUPA, Dr. Santanu Mitra

6. Waste management: “waste” of daily use(peals of vegetables, egg shells, cow dung , fish bones, meat bones....)can be used in vermin compost or for the preparation of organic manure for a better result.

7. Cultivation of multiple crop in a same land provides more returns and also beneficial for ecological balance.

8. Cost-benefit analysis (calculation of total production cost including land and labour cost and how much return is there .)

From a recent visit at Shilpara & HendalKetki villages of Sagar Island we came to know that how poorest of the poor people struggling every day for bread. Most of the inhabitants of this community have lost their land. Many family migrated to other areas leaving their land barren. Almost 300 young male members left the villages for earning. There is one village in the island where no young male members were found. All were migrated to Kerala or Gujrat in search of job. Only female , child and old members of the family are staying in the barren village. All the harvested stalks were washed away in the flood water.

They have no proper food to eat, not even sufficient clothes to protect themselves from the bite of winter. There is no paddy to store not even any Betel to sell. They have planted eucalyptus trees on the embankment but the entire forest have taken away by the river.

Female Self Help Groups in Shilpara and Hental Ketki villages have become defunct. Groups are not organized as well. The reasons relating to group dynamics may be (a) internal conflict and rivalry among the group members; (b) leadership issues within the group; (c) inability to conform to group discipline. It’s true, as long as the disadvantaged suffer from economic deprivation and livelihood insecurity, one cannot dream of achieving a prosperous and vibrant society. Monitoring and controlling of groups are required. Skill development training will help for capacity building. Revitalization of group activities will leads to economic uplift of women as well as of local community.

Dr.Amalesh Mishra (Secretary, PUPA) said that with long term plans we are to plan short term measures to cope up with the situation.

Immediate measures to safeguard the livelihood of sagar island:

Job for food: Creation of employment opportunity is immediate requirement. All the flood victims are to be engaged in infrastructure development work offered by the local Govt. Rational distribution of jobs among community people must be ensured.

Credit inflow: There is a poor flow of credit in sagar island. Financial institutions may take initiative to provide loans to the farmers and SHG’s.

Interest free disaster recovery loan: Local Govt needs to take initiative to provide interest free disaster recovery loan to the flood victims so that they can repair or reconstruct the affected houses and sanitary system .

In a Farmer’s Training Programme:From right side Dr.Amalesh Mishra, Secretary of PUPA, Sri Ashok Mohanti & the president of PUPA, Dr. Santanu Mitra

Long term measures to safeguard the livelihood of sagar island:

Construction of Seawall : A seawall (or sea wall) is a form of coastal defence constructed where the sea, and associated coastal processes, impact directly upon the landforms of the coast. The purpose of a seawall is to protect areas of human habitation, conservation and leisure activities from the action of tides and waves

Construction of Groyne : A groyne is a rigid hydraulic structure built from an ocean shore (in coastal engineering) or from a bank (in rivers) that interrupts water flow and limits the movement of sediment. In the ocean, groynes create beaches, or prevent them being washed away by longshore drift. In a river, groynes prevent erosion and ice-jamming, which in turn aids navigation. Ocean groynes run generally perpendicular to the shore, extending from the upper foreshore or beach into the water. All of a groyne may be under water, in which case it is a submerged groyne. The areas between groups of groynes are groyne fields. Groynes are generally made of wood, concrete, or rock piles, and placed in groups. They are often used in tandem with seawalls. Groynes, however, may cause a shoreline to be perceived as unnatural.

Development of infrastructural facilities: Road, Electricity, Water treatment Plant, health centre , Irrigation system.

Mangrove planting and vegetative covers along coastal zones.

Tourism management: Tourism can be a major source of income for the local people of sagar island.. The island considered as a sacred spot by Hindus. They revered Ganga Sagar as the final point of departure for their holy river, Mother Ganga . It is the place where Mother Ganga merges with the Bay of Bengal after travelling down from the Himalayas and across the plains of north India. It can grow into a viable coastal tourist attraction if the problems of communication involving crossing of river by ferry and lack of grid electricity are solved. The state Govt has introduced helicopter services to sagar island. Fare per person is Rs 1500and takes 45 minutes to reach sagar island from Behala Flying Club, Kolkata.

To attract more tourist number of trip per day needs to be increased with a discounted fare.

Communication chains are to be built up between Local Communities, NGO’s and Local Government. Tripartite meetings may help solve the problems of natural hazards.

Scientists are trying to find out the reasons behind the mystery flood. Word wide continuous research work is going on to see whether there is any relation between environmental change and the unexpected flood .But the conditions of flood victims deteriorating day by day. After effect of flood on the livelihood of local inhabitants is much severe. It is high time to pay attention for alleviating the environmental and livelihood threats of this fragile island in the Bay of Bengal from extreme hazards.