GS Paper III

News Excerpt: 

Several cyclones have hit the sundarban coast in recent years, and increasingly unpredictable weather events in the Sundarbans are causing sea level rise.

Flooding and Migration in Sundarbans:

• The four cyclones that hit the eastern coast of India between 2019-21 – Fani, Amphan, Bulbul and Yaas point to the increasingly unpredictable weather events in the Sundarbans caused by climate change and sea level rise.
• The Sundarbans, hit by multiple cyclones, faces climate-induced displacement, leading to distress migration and human-tiger conflicts. Limited livelihood options and insufficient development have forced residents to migrate within the region and to mainland West Bengal. 
• The Calcutta High Court acknowledged tiger deaths in prohibited wildlife zones in a landmark decision, ordering the State Forest Department to pay full compensation to two tiger widows.
• The region's vulnerability is exacerbated by the loss of inhabited islands, unpredictable weather events, and the lack of safe drinking water and electricity. 
• Decisions around where to relocate residents are made more difficult by the fact that some islands, including Sagar Island, to which planned relocation has been taking place, are not safe for human habitation because of erosion.
• The Sundarbans people urgently need support to address the challenges of climate change and ensure sustainable livelihoods.

What are the problems of increased salinity in sundarbans? 

• Inundation and Salinization: High tide saline water inundated the land, causing saline water to enter the land through drains, creeks, and rivers, leading to salinisation.
• Impact on Plant Community: Increased salinity has caused osmotic stress, leading to the decline of dominant plant species such as Sundari and the extinction of other species like Screw Pine and rice grass.
• Ecosystem Retrogression: The adverse effects of increased salinity are manifested in the retrogression of forest types, slow forest growth, and reduced productivity of forest sites.
• Coastal Erosion: The death of mangrove trees due to salinity intrusion has accelerated coastal erosion, impacting the coastline and the livelihoods of the inhabitants.
• Impact on Livelihoods: Salinity intrusion has reshaped the traditional ways of life, affecting access to freshwater, agricultural work, and causing distress migration due to limited livelihood options.

Plight of Marginalised:

• Climate disaster not only slows down the scope of recovery but exacerbates pre-existing vulnerabilities along the lines of caste and gender.
• As erosion across the Sundarbans continues, officials struggle to agree upon areas suitable for relocation of the most vulnerable residents.

Steps taken to revive and develop Sundarbans:

• In December 2023, the West Bengal capital, Kolkata, became one of the first claimants for climate change-induced loss and damage from the UN’s Loss and Damage Fund, which was agreed upon during the COP28 summit. 

• India’s National Disaster Management Authority developed a draft policy in early 2023, which it refers to as the bedrock of India’s climate change adaptation to include coastal and river erosion.
• The new policy will inform mitigation and resettlement of those displaced by such forms of erosion, with the intended outcome of reducing loss of land, enhancing economic resilience and minimising vulnerability. 

Mitigation strategies:

• To properly address the growing problems of sundarbans, climate resilience must be developed. 
• Creating climate resilience requires more than just financial support. It involves acknowledging the rights of islanders to compensation and rehabilitation, ensuring fair access to forests, involving communities at the local level, and fostering community unity. 
• It is crucial to invest in climate-resilient infrastructure, such as storage facilities for small-scale fisheries and prawn seed collectors, sustainable water management, and planned relocations from flood-prone areas with support for livelihoods.

Way forward:

The Sundarbans people need fair access to funds for climate damage, involvement in decision-making, and resilient infrastructure. Policies should be flexible with changing climate events, and new policies for coastal and river erosion must protect land and boost economic strength.