Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
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Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
2015
Source of inspiration and invigoration
Abar ashibo fire dhansiritir tire ei banglai
hoyto manush noy – hoyto ba sakhchil saliker beshe,
hoyto bhorer kak hoye ei kartiker nobanner deshe
kuasar buke bhese ekdin asibo kathal chayay.
Hoyto ba haas hobo – kishorir ghungur rohibe lal paye
saradin kete jabe kolmir gondhobhora jole bhese bhese.
Abar asibo ami banglar nodi math khet bhalobeshe
jolongir dheu e bheja bangalir sobuj korun dangai
Hoyto dekhibe cheye sudorshon uriteche sondhyar batase.
Hoyto sunibe ek lokkkhi pyacha dakiteche simuler dal e .
Hoyto thoiyer dhan sorateche sishu ekuthaner ghaas e.
rupsar ghola jole hoyto kisor eksada chera paal e
dinga baye ; – ranga megh satraye ondhokar e asiteche nir e,
dekhibe dhobol bok ; amader pabe tumi ihader bhire.
Jibanananda Das
The above poem by Bengali poet, novelist and writer Jibanananda Das has always been an ultimatum
call to me by Nature in its magnanimous, unexplored and crude form. Being an element of constant
rejuvenation for me throughout, this poem sparks out the vigor and unending urge in me to rest within
the arms of Mother Nature and surrender myself to it. I owe my inspiration, enthusiasm and motivation
to work on Nature and the livelihood of its species in an intertwined ecosystem balance, in this case
study conducted by SEED under ICZMP project, at Sagar Island in the year 2015.
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Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
2015
Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Index of acronyms
Foreword
Abstract
Background
Site of study
Methodology and data collection
Sunderbans of India
Observed long term trend variation in global sea level and temperature
Climate change impacts in form of natural disasters on Sunderbans
Table: Summary of coastal climatic changes and their impact on livelihood of people
10. Significant role of mangroves in combating coastal climate change impacts
11. Estimation of loss to land and property
Table: List of alternative adaptive actions taken by the people of the society across the six
villages of Sagar
Table: Gender dimensions of coastal climate change impacts
12.
13.
14.
15.
Embankment breaching and coastal erosion
Role of Government and NGO’s in disaster mitigation
Conclusion
Acknowledgements
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Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
2015
Index of acronyms
SHG - Self Help Group
NGO - Non-Governmental Organization
ICZM - Integrated Coastal Management Project
DoE - Department of Environment
WB - West Bengal
IESWM - Institute of Environmental Studies and Wetland Management
SPMU - State Project Management Unit
EPA - Entry point activity
IEP - Income enhancement plan
CBO – Community based organization
SBR – Sunderban Biosphere Reserve
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Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
2015
Foreword
Amidst the burning issues of industrialization and globalization in 21st century, rapid technological
innovation brought about by huge R&D expenditures, enormous drive behind boosting output growth
along with macroeconomic and financial stability, especially among the nations of the developing world
has ended up in chasing the nationwide luxuries and attributes of the developed nations in spheres of
social and economic life. Provoked by the desire to achieve objectives compatible to such attributes,
developing nations over the past centuries besides the developed ones has committed themselves to
huge amount of erratic industrialization , mining , quarrying , unproductive investments and channeling
of funds to interest driven fields of work by political and corporate pressure groups.
This has led to non-uniform and exploitative use of resources all over the world especially by the
developed world and the emerging market economies. However, this indiscriminate consumption of
non-renewable resources besides, putting excessive pressure on them and creating uncertainty about
their future availability has also introduced enormous amount of pollution levels into the ecosystem of
the world. The fragile ecosystems at various parts of the world from the Arctic to the tropical to the
temperate climate zones have been affected enormously. Life on earth is at risk for these rising pollution
levels around the world for such a long period of time of almost 30-35 years.
This pollution that is generated is nothing but molecules of gases such as methane, carbon dioxide etc.
that once released into atmosphere act as major agents for trapping the long wavelength reflected
infrared rays from the earth aback into the atmosphere. This has contributed to the phenomenon of the
much discussed term of “Global Warming “around the world that has led to the change of climate,
erratic variations in it and to the extreme effect it has on the survival patterns and livelihood of
numerous species on Earth including Man. Thus, it is for this one agent of nature the so called “human
beings” that life on Earth is threatened and facing severe pressure in the coming future ahead , due to
the effect of rising temperature around our planet , that has already started creating disturbance in the
web of life of Nature and its species in various parts of the world.
Out of the numerous natural disasters caused by man-made climate change high frequency storm
surges, floods and extreme weather events across the seas and oceans have made the coastal areas
excessively prone to damage by such disasters. Moreover, lack of infrastructure, supply chain facilities
and non- coordinated public –private decision making has opened the channel towards facing more risk
in areas especially of the recent developing world. One example of such a disaster caused through the
above channels mentioned has been the issue of “Embankment Breaching“ , in densely populated
thriving islands and low-lying deltas of significant natural, commercial and economic attributes such as
the one of Indian Sunderbans and prominently Sagar Island in particular , within the Indian state of West
Bengal.
Thus, in this report an attempt has been made to analyze the effects of climate change impacts through
embankment breaching on Nature and the livelihood patterns of communities residing in this island ;
being constantly exposed to risks of disasters and death.
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Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
2015
Abstract
Venturing into an exploration of the lives and livelihood of people being threatened by climate change in
the coastal areas, this report tried to extract out the ground level scenario of the communities. Sagar
being one of the most vulnerable and imperiled block out of the other 19 blocks of Sunderbans of India.
Infrastructure, communication facilities, literacy rate being much improved in the Sagar Island as
compared to the other blocks of SBR, enabled the analysts to easily siphon out the pressing problems,
needs and combat procedures adopted by people and to assess the coastal impacts of climate change
through the channel of embankment breaching, its trends and components over the recent years in this
block of land.
Thus, this report tries to analyze the nature, types and intensity of natural disasters affecting
Sunderbans, the loss of shelter, property and narrowing down of livelihood options of the local
communities in the low lying delta and rapidly submerging delta of this largest mangrove forest tract in
the world. In particular, one GP of Sagar Island has been focused in this study namely Muriganga – 1 ,
since it has been one of the most risk prone GP facing rapid erosion of land, flooding, drought, intrusion
of saline water into the mainland, external threat to ecosystem balance breaking of embankments and
thereby, threat to food, shelter and livelihood patterns over the recent past years due to intensifying
global warming and climate change impact altering weather conditions drastically , and creating havoc
to the life of people living in low- lying islands , which lack adequate infrastructure in the form of
embankments and other well organized emergency facilities to combat the danger brought about by
nature and its highly non-uniformly varying attributes.
Background
The World Bank has embarked on a vast, determined and resourceful project for the constructive
development of coastal areas all over the world. In India, the bank has channeled funds into three states
of Orissa, West Bengal and Gujarat. Within West Bengal, the vulnerable and risk prone Sagar Island
along with the coastal zone of East Medinipur district are being focused as target regions for immediate
development due to their high intensity risk factors. Under the ICZM project of World Bank in West
Bengal, the DoE of WB has been given the primary responsibility to carry out the task. The IESWM has
been working as the SPMU for ICZMP in WB.
The developmental programme has been designed in a way such that the constructive implementation
of the livelihood upliftment work would be directly done by the CBOs and the GP’s, whereby the six
NGO’s given responsibility would only act as facilitator or supervisors to regulate and invigilate the
developmental work.
Among the other listed NGO’s, SEED has been allotted to work in two GP’s namely: Rudranagar and
Muriganga-1, with two central components of the project -------
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Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
2015
1. EPA (for infrastructure improvement) and
2. IEP (for individual income growth), being executed by the CBO’s.
Within this framework, this case study has been chalked out to reflect the life and livelihood conditions
of people residing in this island under severe coastal impacts of climate change and the alternative
strategies adopted by them coupled with assistance from NGO’s that have been up taken for existence
amidst disasters. In order to voice out local communities problems, adaptive measures and the impacts
of the development project being carried out in Sagar Island, along with the role of government or GP’s
in supporting it , SEED made an attempt to mirror out the image of present condition of the villages in
this island. SEED selected Muriganga-1 as their site of study since it was working in that GP, as well as
the fact that significant amount of embankment breaching has occurred along the borderline of this GP ,
lying along the river side from past years and significantly since 2009.
Site of study
Sagar Island (South 24 Parganas)
One of the 19 coastal blocks of SBR , Sagar is an island lying on continental shelf of the Bay of Bengal.
Being a low-lying diminishing deltaic island with subtropical humid climate, it is one of the most
unguarded and threatened blocks of the Sunderbans. Multifaceted extreme climate events such as
intrusion of sea water, floods, tidal gushes, submergence of the landmass, drought, floods etc. have
brought about a severe crisis on the livelihood and environmental safety of the island. Besides, the
island being an earthquake prone zone is also exposed to severe cyclonic and tsunami-like flash flooding
which is one of the many coastal impacts of severe climate change in these recent years. For the past
few years significant ocean bottom spreading has been observed along the 90 degree east latitude that
passes through Sagar increasing the probability of a sea quake followed by a likewise tsunami at any
time with the speed of waves estimated to flow with a speed of 400 km per hour in any direction.
Global warming with its increased frequency of extreme weather events is becoming more frequent in
the recent years. Seasonal changes surmount to a large degree eventually resulting in uneven
temperature and rainfall patterns that puts livelihood of people and the ecosystem balance at margin.
Thus, for a low lying deltaic region like Sagar severe destruction and natural redistribution of land from
one side to another side of the island along with sea level rise due to climatic distortions has already
begun to showcase a major impact. The amplitude and frequency of the tides in this part of the delta
varies from day to day with difference between high and low tides of about 6.9 meters approx. with
average amplitude of 5metres across the Bay of Bengal.
Besides effects on livelihood of people and threats to natural species, severe economic, social and
health impacts are also witnessed in this block of land. High population density and physiography of this
low lying delta makes it more prone to the dangers of anticipated sea level rise and extreme weather
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Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
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events than that made by IPCC. However, infrastructural support, literacy rate, communication facilities
etc. are much better in this part of the Sunderban delta. These amenities lay the background support to
analysts or researchers helping them to focus, assess and evaluate the coastal impacts of climate
change, their trends, vulnerability and consequences on livelihood of people and natural resources of
this stretch of landmass.
Location of Sagar Island in the Bay of Bengal with the village zones ma
Fig.1
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Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
2015
Focus Point – Muriganga G.P.
Covering an area of 3.89 sq.km this G.P. is located at the north east of Sagar Island. Due to tidal waves in
the Baratala River adjoining the coastal belt of this G.P. tremendous amount of landmass has been
engulfed, of about 92.6 % till date. Facing the entry point towards the Sagar Island this G.P. has been
facing severe coastal erosion and embankment breaching; forcing hundreds of people to move towards
the inland, destructing life, property and livelihood of people besides, being harmful to the natural
ecosystem in general. Various diverse methods had been taken up to withhold the tremendous inward
flow of the river water since 2004 however; most of them due to its construct as well as due to its
temporary nature have proved futile on a long term basis. No proper long term solution to prevent
embankment breaching has been up taken. Hence in this report we focus on five villages of this G.P. on
the basis of its significance in terms of its position and distance from the river side namely – Kachuberia,
Muriganga, Silpara, Hendolketki,Patharpratima. In this report we would be mainly focusing on the
effects of embankment breaching on these five villages of this G.P. and the alternative adaptive and
mitigation measures that has been provided and the long term solution towards alternate means of
livelihood.
Zonal map os Sagar Island
with identification of
Muriganga - 1 GP - the
focus point of our study.
Fig.2
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Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
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Methodology and data collection
The report is based on a field work conducted on the communities in two stages. In the first stage
random households were selected from each of the above mentioned five villages. In the second phase
households were divided into groups according to their
major source of income and occupation. Also, the
bureaucrats, policy actors, teachers and students belonging
to different income strata have been interviewed. Realistic
Gour Mohan Sau, of Muriganga
Ethnographic approach which consists of written description
village has lost almost 0.1 acre
of facts as observed and learnt from the respondents was
of land to the river during
applied for conducting the survey. Qualitative sampling
flood, gradual submergence
interviews were taken from the residents in order to get to
under high current water and
the ground level issues and concerns on a priority basis.
to the government for
embankment construction five
years ago without any
compensation for submitting
Sunderbans of India
the land for the greater welfare
History
of the village in particular and
the island in general. Due to the
Dating back to the late 7th century, Sunderbans become the
aforesaid problems, it was often
largest, low-level deltaic region below sea. Earlier this area
found during the survey that
which is now presently considered as Sunderbans consisted
households are reluctant to
of large stretches of grassland with many tropical wetlands
give away any land to the
making it one of the largest biodiversity-rich forests. The
government for embankment
first settlers in the area appeared in the later part of the 5th
construction as they would not
century but were compelled to leave due to rising sea levels
get any monetary return for it
and due to the landmass enclosing in. However, the human
and also the fact that they
habitat there soon adapted to the new living style with the
cannot trust the government
loose, silt like soil and gradually number of inhabitants
concerning the designing and
appeared. Once more and more people began to inhabit the
effective built up of these
area the destruction of the forest became more and more
structures anymore, being an
prominent. This survival strategy went on for many
eye witness to the futile impact
centuries until this same stretch of land was claimed by
of such construction over the
British rule in 1765.
years.
Once the British took control of it, rapid deforestation
started devouring up the area. Sunderbans were perceived
to be an area of unlimited resources and thereby, siphoning of resources out of it largely had a
diminishing effect on biodiversity. Not until 1862 was the deforestation went on in full phase. In 1875
the British government declared it as un-leased forest reserve, and placed it under the control of the
Forest Department, that led to the formation of today’s Sunderbans forest. Economic dependence of
Bangladesh on the revenues from the forests and to regenerate swiftly meant that they could continue
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Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
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with a policy of harvesting the produce. The Indian forests in the South24 Parganas by then had been
seriously denuded by years of felling and the lack of adequate fresh water. India was also not dependent
on the revenues from the output of the forests and as a result commercial deforestation reduced and
even completely stopped in many parts of the forest. However, in 1963 and 1973 when refugees from
East Pakistan (and Bangladesh) were allowed to clear reserve forests for agriculture and settle in areas
like Jharkhali and Herobhanga islands, pressure started to build in up again.
In 1973, management of a large portion of the Indian Sundarbans was passed on to Sundarbans Tiger
Reserve that was established in 1973..
During the last 25 years, India consolidated its share of the residual 4,110 sq. km of natural mangrove
forests of the Sundarbans through a series of initiatives. In 1977, it declared it to be a Wildlife Sanctuary
and elevated parts of it to the status of a National Park. Entire Indian Sundarbans area was recognized
by UNESCO as a Global Biosphere Reserve in 2001. In 1977 the forest was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary
and few parts of it became a National Park, for conservation purposes. Since then, conservation
strategies are being implemented each year in order to protect the area and preserve it in its current
form , however due to corruption , illegal forestry and vested interests and pressure of power groups
most of the positive efforts prove to be futile.
Location and geography
Resting on the enormous delta of the Bay of Bengal, the SUNDERBANS is formed by the confluence of
the rivers namely the Ganges, Padma, Brahmaputra, Meghna across the southern region of India and
Bangladesh. It consists of a stretch of mangrove forests lying at the southern tip of the Indian state of
West Bengal. Extending for about 350 km from Hooghly to Meghna river estuaries; it becomes a part of
the world’s largest delta formed by these rivers. Stretching over India and Bangladesh, it is considered to
be the largest mangrove forest tract in the world that is being home to the great Royal Bengal Tiger of
the world and has been declared to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
The Indian site of Sunderbans is estimated to cover an area of 4110 sq.km out of which 1700 sq.km is
covered by water bodies of varying types such as creeks, canals, rivers that vary in width from a few
meters to several kilometers. In the Indian site, the Sunderbans consists of 102 islands (48 of which
constitutes the Reserve Forest) and the remaining 54 islands are inhabited by a highly dense population.
The settlements and the reserve forests belongs to two completely separable set of islands. For the
Indian site the forest lies on the eastern side whereas the populated islands are located along its
western boundary and more towards the mainland.
The coastal area along the Bay is lined with upstream sediments and intertidal segregation. Deltaic
formations dominate the area that includes draining lines linked with levees, splays, tidal sand-flats,
sandbars and tidal flats. The physical formation of the area is largely dominated by interaction of the
biotic and the abiotic factors which includes estuaries, swamps, creeks, dunes etc. The mangroves here
largely affect the formation of the landmass and the intertidal vegetation is a major determinant of
swamp morphology prevailing here. Mangrove seeds grow in a substratum where sediments are
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trapped by the micro logical activities in the landmass. Creepers and grasses act as a shield against sand
dunes. Mudflats here are generally located on the islands where there exists low velocity of current, the
flats being exposed under low tides and submerged under high tides and it is within the interior of the
mudflats where the mangroves dominantly survive.
Formally Sunderban Biosphere Reserve (SBR) spreads over two southern districts of West Bengal; with



Total population : 3.7 million
Decennial growth rate ( 1991- 2001 ) : 17.7 %
Population density : 845 per sq.km
Source (2001 census data)
Most of the habituated land here has been converted to agriculture the chief source of livelihood for the
people with about 85% of 4.5 million people residing there relying on a single paddy crop, besides
fishing, crab collection, honey collection and gathering of wood from the forests.
Location of the Indian and
Bangladesh Sunderbans , as
a low lying rich sediment
deposited delta.
Fig.3
Topography
The SRF is a part of the entire Ganges delta covering Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal.
The topography of the forest is quite flat and is located at a maximum elevation of about 3 meters
above sea level. It consists of two eco-regions: Fresh water swamp forests and Mangroves.
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Flora and fauna
The majestic forests of the Ganges delta is the home to about 334 plant species,49 species of mammals ,
400 species of fish ,320 species of birds, 53 species of reptiles, 11 species of amphibians and 245 generic
species. Besides there exists a plethora of sundari, gewa, goran and keora trees which comprises of the
most abundant species here. Dhundul, kakra, palms and spear grasses also exist here. Intertidal
mudflats, sand dunes, sand flats, freshwater marshes etc. here support a wide variety of trees and
shrubs. The type of vegetation prevailing in this region is largely correlated to extent of water salinity,
freshwater flushing and the physiography. Bearing a rich ecosystem and wildlife habitat the Sunderbans
is concentrated with enormous amount of faunal species besides being the home to the Royal Bengal
Tiger. Amphibians, reptiles, varieties of small fishes, crabs, shrimps, fishing cats, wild boars, common
grey mongooses, spotted dears, pangolins, flying foxes etc. abound the forest.
Susceptibility of the zone
Being a typically low-lying area with most of its parts remaining submerged under water during tidal
waves of the sea; any rise in sea level water is a major source of threat for life and property belonging to
this area. The ecosystem here is both fragile and unique, in the sense that it is the largest mangrove
forest tract in the world where both freshwater of the river and salt water of the sea mix. Human
habitat of this deltaic tract of the Ganges is most prone to challenges from air, land and sea during their
day to day activities. However, the presence of mangroves acts as a blessing for this land (being one of
the world’s mostly densely populated regions), by acting as a natural buffer against coastal erosion and
saltwater flooding into the residential mainland.
It is in this light, that the fragility of this delta that has been threatened by one such recent global
phenomenon – human induced climate change. For last couple of years, people residing in this
vulnerable area of Sunderbans is said to have reported about sudden variations in natural phenomena;
terribly affecting livelihood there. The ecosystem balance that has existed here for centuries is being
under severe threat now. This report tries to explore one of such chief facets of climate change disasters
namely Embankment Breaching at a particular site of the majestic delta of the Sunderbans – The Sagar
Island.
Observed long term trend variation in global sea level and temperature
Global mean sea level has been steadily increasing as can be seen from the graph. This rise may be due
to factors like: melting of ice and glacier caps, breakage of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheet over
time and also due to thermal expansion of oceans. Since density is inversely related to temperature,
therefore, as water bodies warm up in response to global warming, oceans and seas expand. However,
alternative regional variations can be caused by change in interior temperature of oceans, in content of
salinity in the water masses and also due to density variations.
As can be observed from graph below, the population in Sunderbans has been rising at a tremendous
high rate of about a population density of 1000 per sq. km compared to that of 1030 per sq. km for the
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2015
entire state of West Bengal., Being a highly enriched sediment deposited low-lying delta prone to high
agricultural productivity besides and the storehouse of diverse natural resources in the form of forestry,
fuel wood, timber, food products like honey etc., along with species, It attracts huge number of people
over year searching for survival options to settle down in that area. Presence of high birth rates and
inflow of migration into the area further put this fragile ecosystem in pressure.
Growth in population, indiscriminate exploitation of natural resources and existence of inefficient
practices will likely result in an increasing gap between the local food demand and supply, which could
exacerbate malnourishment, and bring in new diseases into the area specially in children. Rice, being the
major cultivation crop will decrease below the required per capita amount, if the current population
continues to grow at such a high rate and agricultural yields continue in the future.
Moreover, current diversion of agricultural land towards aquaculture in some areas would deteriorate
the supply demand mismatch significantly over the coming years.
Fig. 4 Trend variation in global sea level and temperature from 1990 – 2010
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Fig. 5 Trend in population in Sunderbans from 1970 -2010
45
40
35
30
25
Observed population in Lakhs
20
15
10
5
0
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Accumulation of salts in the soil leading to reduced fertility (salinization) is a "poorly understood"
process and is a "silent" threat to the Sunderbans mangrove forests“ – World Bank Report.
Thus within the scenario of global warming and its consequent effects of climate change through
rainfall, floods, seasonal variations etc. lead to intrusion of saline waters into the fresh water areas of
the Sunderbans, thereby, destroying the ecological balance, and posing threats to the survival of
mangrove tracts along with the destruction of livelihood options for day to day survival of people
residing in those area. Henceforth, any adaptive strategies or long term solutions to face these threats
are met by severe challenge from time to time, and it is this fact that brings about uncertainty in
livelihood of people.
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Climate change impacts in form of natural disasters on Sunderbans
Due to the aforesaid topography of the Sunderbans, climate change takes a heavy toll on the livelihood
of people lying in such low-lying deltas, with food and shelter security heavily threatened in times of
floods and storm surges, drought coastal erosion and
embankment breaching. Erratic seasonal variations, high
frequency weather events create havoc for agriculture ,
Tarun Kumar Das, member of
pond fishing and health securities as a large number of
Gram Panchayat of Silpara
vector borne diseases inundate the Sunderbans during these
village has suffered from much
time and poses major threat to children below 12 years of
stigma from his fellow
age.
neighbours even after being in
service for solution of their
problems and difficulties of
Food and water security being at threat people traditionally
daily life. Her wife who herself
develop alternative adaptation strategies to mitigate such
is a member of an SHG group
impacts. Also they shift to various sorts of livelihood
now casts severe doubt on the
options. People often lose large plots of owned plots of land
fact that being member of any
to the seas during flood or even to the government during
community groups or
embankment construction. However, the huge chunks of
government creates more
money spent by the public sector on these embankments
pressure on a household, in
over the years have proved to be futile due to lack of
time of disaster when their
maintenance, improper raw materials used, inefficient
own security of food and
designing and lack of communication between local
shelter is in threat people
communities and public decision makers. Thus, no proper
chase them out considering
rehabilitation or long term measures are been taken by the
them to be responsible for
government to solve the pressing needs of people.
weak and improper
embankment construction over
years, that have brought about
the massive inflow of water
into the villages during time of
flood.
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Sagar Island scenario
Fig. 6 Coastal impacts of climate change affecting livelihood of communities and
Climate Change
Increase in intensity and
ferquency of extreme
weather events
Sea level rise
Distortionary weather
events
Variation in sea surface
temperature
Summary of coastal climatic changes and their impact on livelihood of people
Outcomes of climate change ( in coastal area )
Consequence on society and natural ecosystem
Rise in sea level
Low lying Island of Sagar, with no high elevation of
the interior landmass near the seafront is highly
vulnerable to loss of huge patches of private
owned lands, intrusion of saline water into the
mainland harming crops and fresh water fishes in
ponds. The land lost to seas cannot be reclaimed
ever, people residing along the river banks, have to
move inward every year into the mainland, losing
their own small patch of private shelter. No
compensation of any form for such losses are
made to people in form of money or by supplying
other amenities to these people. Political tie-knots
are of some help, to gain compensation for people
facing these challenges, but that is too low in
number.
Variation in surface temperature of the sea
Seas are warming up due to thermal expansion
and fishermen often informed excessive rainfall
compared to earlier periods, during the southwest monsoons and low catch in the quantity of
fishes compared to past years.
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Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
Erratic change in magnitude and frequency of
weather events
Coastal erosion
2015
Seasonal variations put pressure on cultivation of
crops and put traditional methods implemented by
people at risk. Monsoons have started shifting to a
later date, thus, people depending on rain-fed
cultivation face a huge risk as it indicates that the
time for sowing the seeds and reaping the harvests
drastically becomes uncertain. If rains advent
during the harvest season , they the entire crop
gets destroyed , and Sunderbans being a single
crop land , leads to direct shutdown of income
flow for the farmers for the next full year, besides
posing threat to food security in itself. Permanent
disappearance of crops such as pumpkins and
chilies has taken place. Increasing salinity content
and warm temperatures have shifted the location
and spawning seasons of varieties of fishes. Due to
low catch, fishermen often have to delve in deep
sea waters in their trawlers , that too for higher
number of days for the same quantity of fish catch
Breakage of embankments and erosion of land are
the two most observed scenarios in context of
Sagar Island. Every year huge blocks and chunks of
land masses get washed away into the sea ,
resulting in loss of own property land of people
along with the shrinkage of the Island. Some
islands like Ghoramara, Lohachora have been lost
to the sea in past years.
Fig. 7 Trend in cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal
The above figure shows the high amplitude of cyclonic variations over the trend in pat one and a half
decade.
17 | P a g e
Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
2015
"With a 1 metre rise in sea level, the Sunderbans (left over mangroves in Sagar Island) are likely to
disappear due to viral and fungal infections, which may spell the demise of the tiger and other wildlife,"
said the IPCC in its 2001 assessment report.
Fig. 8 Death by natural disasters across Sunderbans
Percentage of surveyed people killed by type of
natural disasters
Storm surges
Flood and drought
Epidemic
High temperature
2%
9%
12%
77%
Fig.9 Percentage of land loss across the seven islands of South 24 Parganas
Dhanchi
Bulchery
Jambudwip
Bhangaduani
Loss in %
Ghoramara
Namkhana
Sagar
0
5
10
15
20
25
18 | P a g e
Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
2015
Fig. 10 Cluster of interlinked effects of disasters brought about by climate change in Sagar Island
Coastal
impacts of
climate
change
Lowering of soil
quality
Seal level
rise
Intrusion of saline
water into the
mainland
Severe
lowering of
the quality
of water ,
pressure on
ground
water
Severe
Leads to further
damage to
environmental
property
damage,again adding
and
to the heavy loss in
household
coastal areas due to
shelters
climate change
Quality
and
quantity of
food at
threat
Threat to
livelihood
based on
agriculture,
fishing , etc.
Fig. 11 Severe effect on means of livelihood by natural disasters
Percentage of livelihood of the surveyed
people affected by type of natural disasters
4% 2%
21%
Storm
Flood and drought
Epidemic
High temperature
73%
19 | P a g e
Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
2015
Significant role of mangroves in combating climate change impacts
The roots of the mangrove trees are so adapted to hold into the mud firmly and reduce the pressure of
water in washing away chunks of landmasses. Besides, acting as a carbon sink these tracts of mangrove
forests are also a source of organic litter for the ecosystem. Thus, it acts as an agent of coastal zone
protection, efficient soil trap and as a niche for variety of marine species, including crabs, prawns, small
fishes etc.
Destruction of these forest tract led to changes in spawning season, distribution and quantity of fish
stocks in the creeks , ridges, and along river banks.
Fig. 12 Conjoint role played by telluric and coastal ecosystems in maintaining balance in ecosystem
• Deforestation for
settlements and commerciali
nterests.
• Sedimentation, erratic
weather s,sea level rise,
increased intensity of salinity
in water.
Telluric
ecosystem
Coastal
ecosystem
• Mangroves acts as
a natural buffer
against soil
erosion, storm
surges , tides ,
floods ,
• Storehouse of
biodiversity.
• Subsistence agro-based
activities, pisciculture ,
small nurseries for crab ,
shrimp and small fishes
( coastal fisheries ) .
• C - sinks which helps in
carbon sequestration ,
protection of coastal zne
, sediment and nutrient
trap, absorber of
pollutants from air ,
water and land, acts as a
partial reflector ,
absorber and
transmitter of waves .
Welfare
benefits
Note : Research results are proof to the fact that sea waves of one metre that cross over 1.5km of
mangrove forests, gets reduced to a height of only 0.05 m, thereby, reducing the pressure of water
surge inflow into the islands as well as the delta.
20 | P a g e
Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
2015
Large tract of mangrove plantations
implanted in the area Phulbari over
the years, that has significantly
reduced loss of landmasses to flood
thereafter.
Fig. 13
Estimation of loss to land and property
Fig. 14 Embankment breaching in km across six blocks of South 24 Parganas
50
45
40
35
30
2011-12
25
Average
20
2002-03
15
10
5
0
Sagar
Namkhana
Kakdwip
Kultali
Basanti
Mathurapur
2
21 | P a g e
Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
2015
Fig. 15 Loss of land in sq. k.m. across seven islands of South 24 Parganas
250
200
150
2001
100
2010
50
0
List of alternative adaptive actions taken by the people of the society across the six villages of Sagar
Fields under observation
Kachuberia
Silpara and Muriganga
Hendolketki and
Patharpratima
(Assessment on
community households of
the coastal impact of
climate change occurring
through embankment
breaching in these
villages over the years)
( located to the north of
Sagar Island and
bordering the Muriganga
river, it is the center of
jetty services to and fro
from the island)
( located to the north –
east of Sagar island ,
these two villages
borderline the
Muriganga river ,
however it is not the
point of entrance to the
mainland that
differentiates it from
Kachuberia’s location )
(located within a
distance of 3.5 km
from the Muriganga
river these two
villages are located
towards the interior
of the mainland and
lie side by side of one
another )
Livelihood options
Cultivation of rice, beetle,
fish in private ponds (3)
for selling as well as
Cultivation of rice,
vegetables ,beetle (
worth 50 thousand to 2
Cultivation of beetle
leaves, fish in private
ponds, animal
22 | P a g e
Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
2015
consumption, animal
husbandry in cows for
consumption of milk,
lakhs ), fish in private
ponds (3) for selling as
well as consumption,
animal husbandry in
cows for consumption
and sell of milk, fishing
in shallow sea waters
catching of prawn
seedling during the
rainy season mainly
due to high yield in
terms of quantity.
husbandry in cows,
goats and hens for
consumption and sell
of eggs, milk and
meat. Trees such as
coconut date etc. for
consumption, sell and
firewood.
Classification of property
loss
House fall, saline water
intrusion into beetle
field, ponds.
House fall, saline water
intrusion into rice and
beetle fields, and pond
loss by theft if located
near river border since
no man left in
household to guard the
pond at night, land
acquisition under share
cropping practices.
Only 27-35% of owned
land remained suitable
for cultivation for the
entire two villages due
to salt water intrusion.
Flood water entered
into this area to a
very low extent with
walls of few houses
crumbling down and
mainly salt water
intrusion into ponds
destroying fishes.
However, due to the
inward location of
cultivable land of
these people, much
saline indention of
land has not
happened here.
Gender dimensions of
coastal
Men of households
shifted from working on
fields to taking lower
posts
government/panchayat
jobs, women being taking
care of ponds , beetle
cultivation and other field
related jobs on a regular
basis
Men of households
shifted from working
on fields to working as
migrant labour in
Kerala, Gujarat etc.
Men are shifting from
cultivation to daily
labour in the local
market or in some
other place outside
Sagar as migrant
labour as they are
losing land at a rapid
rate to flood or to
government.
Due to establishment of
quite a few no.of
Establishment of quite
a few no.of emergency
15-20 days of health
camp was availed by
climate change impact
Transport and
23 | P a g e
Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
communication
options during
emergency
Current adaptive
practices up- taken
2015
emergency health camps
during flood towards the
mainland, people
reluctant to go far
inwards to avail such
options
health camps that
distributed clothes,
good and plastic tents
for roof building and
approximately two
weeks of shelter.
people living in this
area. However,
during floods it
becomes necessary
Shift to working as daily
labourer in
fields/construction, raw
materials etc., migrant
labour, sucking up salt
water in ponds by
machine depending on
accumulated wealth of
household (not for all ) ,
cultivation of vegetables
on saline water intruded
fields unfit for rice
cultivation anymore,
waiting for the rainy
season to wash away the
salt water and fill up
ponds and rice fields with
fresh water, growing
alternative salt resistant
rice varieties if possible
that too depending on
accumulated cash over
the years, catching of
prawn seedlings.
Use of local Hogla leaf
to build temporary
houses, use of salt
removing fertilizers,
cultivation of rice
varieties like motsobi,
dudhewari,pankkaj etc.
however with too little
output, sucking up salt
water in ponds by
machine depending on
accumulated wealth of
household (not for all )
and introducing prawns
and salt resistant fishes
such as Baata , tyangra
etc., cultivation of
vegetables on saline
water intruded fields
unfit for rice cultivation
anymore, knitting of
fish nets of 1 kilogram
that takes 15-30 days
and are sold at
Rs.120per kilogram.
Migrant labour. Daily
wage labour ,
catching of prawn
seedlings, cultivation
of fish in private
ponds, rice and beetle
leaves. People with
better financial
condition that the
other two group of
villages have
managed to buy
rickshaw vans, jeeps
etc. for passenger
commutation within
the island. cultivation
of rice varieties like
motsobi,
dudhewari,pankkaj
etc. however with too
little output, sucking
up salt water in ponds
by machine
depending on
accumulated wealth
of household (not for
all ) and introducing
prawns and salt
resistant fishes such
as Baata , tyangra
etc., cultivation of
vegetables on saline
water intruded fields
unfit for rice
Most of the firewood
for cooking has to be
bought from the
market as people have
lost their own trees to
the ravaging flood used
for that purpose. More
migrant labourers, 100
days worker, people
24 | P a g e
Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
2015
are venturing out in the
sea to catch fishes in
trawlers as their
survival options
narrows down.
Increased plantation of
trees like Jhau,
Sonajhuri , Eucalyptus
etc. for soil erosion and
firewood.
cultivation. As the
water level here is
quite deep thus, only
single cropping exists
over a year.
Effectiveness of such
practices
Households manage to
arrange for minimum
cultivation for selfconsumption and keeping
cows and hens for milk
and egg, for regular
earning they resort to
work as daily labourer or
under some agency,
religious people involving
themselves in religious
camps to earn money.
Households manage to
arrange for minimum
cultivation for selfconsumption and
keeping cows and hens
for milk and egg, for
regular earning they
resort to work as daily
labourer or under some
agency or resort to
migration.
Day to day
consumption not
much affected,
however assets in the
form of ponds, land
has become
worthless of value
due to unproductivity
caused by salt water
from sea.
Application of traditional
knowledge in practices
Households adapt to
plant different salt
resistant varieties of rice,
use organic /chemical
fertilizers on fields to
fight the salt indented
land, mix organic home made fertilizers with
vegetable covers to
improve the quality of
soil in beetle fields.
Households adapt to
plant different salt
resistant varieties of
rice, use organic
/chemical fertilizers on
fields to fight the salt
indented land and to
improve the quality of
soil in beetle fields,
introduce salt resistant
fish varieties in ponds.
Use of fresh water to
wash off salt indented
beetle fields, use of
cow-dung water to
fight insects , pests and
salt,
Same measures as
taken by the other
two group of villages.
25 | P a g e
Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
2015
Women member of some
SHG group, helping in
working for road
improvement, tube well
construction,
microfinance, however,
majority of women lack
active participation,
enthusiasm and
encouragement.
Women member of
some SHG group,
helping in working for
road improvement,
tube well construction,
microfinance, investing
in a rice breaking
machine, for health
cure etc.
Through SHG
formation women
now have started
cooking in schools for
mid-day meals ,
knitting fish nets and
selling them. Proposal
for cement block
pitching , mangrove
plantation etc. to
combat soil erosion ,
flood and
embankment
breaching.
Bonding among
community members in
adaptive measures to
fight the disaster
Households adapt on
individual basis rather
than together, however
women of various
households are often
interconnected through
money lending and
microfinance to boost up
their income, with men
working more
independently of one
another.
Same
People in this area
are more aware to
the pros and cons of
embankment
breaching and the
ways to deal with it
maybe because of the
fact that they are able
to observe huge
amount of losses of
others rather than
being completely
involved in renewing
up their own
livelihood options
since the % property
loss in this area has
been low.
Involvement of decision
makers and the public
No involvement, local
issues unheard and
suggestive measures
from local people are not
taken into account.
Communities have
often proposed to use
high-strength boulders
to control the flow of
flood water however,
their voices remain
unheard. Local people
suggest that use of high
People have observed
increased amount of
rainfall in the recent
years during south
west monsoon s. High
intensity winds
accompanied by
gushing inflow enter
Women’s’ participation in
decision making
26 | P a g e
Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
Measures taken by the
government / Ngo’s
Use of sausage net-blocks
, block pitching , however
due to presence of raising
landmass in parts of
middle of river pressure
on embankments is high
and these solutions offer
no help but meet with
failure rapidly. Panchayat
has planted trees along
river banks to earn
money by selling them at
a higher rate in a later
date.
2015
strong boulders of
about 200 feet from
the embankment into
the river bed would
lead to gradual deposit
of sand between the
boulders and the
embankment which
once starts anchoring
tightly could be used to
develop a wide stretch
of landmass where
mangrove plantation
can be implemented
with its usual
advantages in flood
prone areas.
the island. People in
this area specially are
aware of the dangers
faced by people living
close to the river
border and also by
fisherman who
venture into deep sea
during storms and
heavy rains. Every
year the pylin gets
washed away by the
gushing water.
Eucalyptus trees have
been planted in series
along river banks to
withhold the clay and
prevent soil erosion
however, the excessive
water surges along the
river bank create too
much of a pressure for
even the trees to hold
the soil tightly. To
construct
embankments over the
years, government is
taking up land (even
cultivable) from people
without adequate
reclamation money
that too favouring
households working
under political party in
power. Very few
people have been
Every year the pylin
and sand bags put by
the government gets
washed away by the
gushing water. Pen ,
copies, food etc. have
been distributed by
some NGO’s during
emergency. Bamboo
pylin constructed by
government is of low
height and too little in
number for vast
stretches of breached
landmass.
27 | P a g e
Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
2015
reimbursed with
money due to the loss
of land in embankment
construction or in flood
with 10 -15,000 Rs. Per
katha of land.
Embankments have
been constructed over
the years but little or
no maintenance has
been up – taken after
its construction due to
which breaching
happens at a higher
and faster rate.
Overall summary
Being most proximate to
the river among the other
villages, Kachuberia faces
massive and complete
wash away of land and
shelter in the fierce
floods that occurred.
The communities here
are more prone to river
and sea based livelihood
options as it is of most
easy access to them.
Thus, despite loss in flood
people have not been
completely choked off
from their livelihood
strategies of survival.
Located within 2.5 km
from the river these
two villages lost their
property, land and
shelter to the gushing
floods. People here
base their livelihood on
farm activities more
compared to river –
based options. Thus,
lives and livelihood
options of communities
here are both shattered
with insignificant
assistance from GP for
rehabilitation and
reconstruction
measure.
Located inward
towards the mainland
and within 4.5-5 km
from the river body ,
loss of property here
has been quite low in
quantifiable terms
compared to the
other group of
villages. However,
absence of high risk
flooding here has on
the other hand, made
people more
observant, aware and
precautious regarding
the possible damage
in near future that
awaits them.
28 | P a g e
Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
2015
Village roads being flooded in
Sagar Island leading people to
leave their shelter and property
and take refuge in emergency
health camps organized by some
religious institutions and NGO's.
Fig. 16
A local woman collecting prawn seedling
along the river bank as an alternative
livelihhod option due to disasters caused
by climate change.
Fig. 17
29 | P a g e
Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
2015
Fig. 18. Damage to shelters of the communities across the villages under study
Parts of a house completely
shattered by flood in Muriganga
village.
A house compltely destroyed in
Kachuberia village , being most
exposed to waves thrases of the
Muriganga river.
Breakdown of roof , wall and floor of
a house in Silpara village being faced
by excessive blow of high intensity
waves during flood.
Gender dimensions of coastal climate change impacts
List of climate change effects
Increased intensity of
rainfall
Impact of men
Crop productivity falls, income
falls, search for alternative
livelihood options or migration
Erratic rainfall distribution
Migration due to inadequate
monetary income by working on
own fields or as an agricultural
Impact on women
Difficult to exercise regular
household tasks of arranging for
water, food and fuel wood , as
once the fuel wood becomes
wet it cannot be used for
cooking purposes.
Women has to take
responsibility of entire
household , manage cultivation
30 | P a g e
Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
labour.
Storm surges ,drought, flood,
saline water intrusion etc.
Search for alternative
livelihood options or migration.
Shortage of food
Men get to eat first at home
even if the earning comes jointly
from both him and his wife.
Scorching summer heat in
tropics
Tiring work in fields, switching to
work as wage or daily labour.
Social impact
Often are barred away from
social stigma due to their
superior stake over women in
rural areas.
2015
of whatsoever crops on
unproductive farmlands, fishes ,
manage duckery, goatery for day
to day consumption or sale , so
work load rises .
Destruction of fodder and
livestock, time consuming works
of household, harder land to
work on in case of drought.
Women are often forced to work
as wage labour in this scenario,
has to work both inside and
outside the home, often after
meeting the food requirements
of family they fail to feed their
stomach with the left-over food
and often go on fast day after
days.
This has very severe
consequences on their health
and thereby affecting the health
of their children who depend on
her.
More time consuming and tiring
work , productivity of cultivation
and animal husbandry falls due
to lower effort from exhaustion
Women take major responsibility
for survival and feeding of her
families, thereby working for
ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING.
Often they face social stigma of
failing to repay small debts , or
buying food through lending and
not cash.
31 | P a g e
Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
2015
Fig. 19 Damage to housing and property due to breaching of embankment during the flood of 2014
600
500
Full - built house
400
Half - built house
300
200
Beetel cultivation
100
0
Ponds used for day to day
consumtion and sale of fresh water
fisshes
Fig. 20 Effect of salt water intrusion into villages on livelihood options due to embankment breaching
Salt water intrusion into the fagricultural ields makes it uncultivable
for rice , vegetables and the ohter cash crops.
Death of beetle planations due to heavy saline water intrusion
during flood that killed the roots by saturating the soil with salt
deposits.
Death of fresh water fishes in ponds due to mixture of salt and fresh
water and intolerable bad smell arising out of ponds due to such
confluence.
32 | P a g e
Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
2015
Fig. 21 Depiction of day to day survival of people with and without adequate monetary endowment
Exterior of the
same household
with walls being
made up of
plastic tents
distributed during
emergency
Interior of a
temporary tent
household in
Muriganga village.
Construction of a
concrete houseof a
familyout of their
accumulated savings
in Muriganga village
whose father works as
a contractor in
Kolkata.
Fig. 22 Communities put lifetime savings at stake to build secure shelter for their families
Concrete house
construction in
Muriganga village.
In Silpara, this
household has sold its
land and other property
assets at the cost to
fight flood in order to
built a strong and
secure shelter.
Breakdown of roof and
wall of the mud house
of the same household
in Silpara.
33 | P a g e
Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
2015
Fig. 23 Property loss and attempt by communities to build new concrete houses for safety
A completely broken home of a
household in the Silpara village after
flood.
Another household in Muiganga
village that managed to build a
concrete house from its savings over
the years to fight back the disasters
of flood in near future.
Fig. 24 Mud and pylin supported embankments destroyed by flood waters
Breached embankment bordering Silpara village
through which water gushed in in August 2014.
Low height and short stretch of pylin accompanied by
sandbags in few selected areas bordering the
Muriganga river.
Plantation of Mangrove trees in series of chains across
the borderline of the remaining embankments to
withold the soil and prevent soil erosion or breakdown
of embankments by water force during flood.
34 | P a g e
Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
2015
Fig. 25 Proportion of households with damaged property among the six villages under study
800
700
370
600
300
500
105
400
175
110
300
374
200
326
417
250
275
100
0
Silpara
Hendolketki
Muriganga
Patharpratima
Kachuberia
No. of households of the total with completely destroyed property
Total no of households in each village
Fig. 26 Change livelihood options % of surveyed households at the outbreak of storm Aila in 2009
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Before 2009
After 2009
\
35 | P a g e
Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
2015
Fig. 27 Glimpses of alternative livelihood options adopted by communities
Alternative salt resistant variries
of rice and beetle seedlings
cultivated, salt water sucked up
from ponds to introduce salt
tolerant fishes like baata, bhetki
etc.
Net spread on river for catching of
small fishes ,crabs, prawn seedlings.
Large fish nets spread out on ground to prevent entangling which is to
be loaded into trawlers iby fishermen in early mornng.
Fig. 28
36 | P a g e
Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
2015
Fig. 29 Share of destruction of housing among the five villages under study after flood
Degree of destruction of houses after flood
Silpara
Hendolketki
Muriganga
Patharpratima
Kachuberia
28%
35%
10%
10%
17%
Embankment breaching and coastal erosion
Deep breach in embankment
Fig. 30
37 | P a g e
Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
2015
Fig. 31 Glimpses of breakage of coastal landmass and embankments
Pylin of insufficient strenght as
excessively small heights used
to contol flood water
Breached embankemnt in
Kachuberia
Fig.a
Fig.b
Block pitching and sausage wires used as temporary
sollutions to flood with no long term use
Fig.c
38 | P a g e
Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
2015
Fig. 32 Breakage of sausage net wires and blocks pitching in Kachuberia village
Use of susage net wires to guard aginst water flow
along the Kachuberia river border had been utterly
of no use and has lasted for less than 9-10 months.
Sideways is a household almost within 20 feet of
the Muriganga river , being exposed to death and
disaster by flood at any hour of the day.
A woman , redident of Muriganga
village who resided close to the
river bank and thus has suffered
severe damage to property and
shelter.
Fig. 33
39 | P a g e
Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
2015
Fig. 34
Pore water
pressure
Embankment performance
For development of constructive and resistive embankments, government should prevent short term
erratic construction of mud embankments with lack of planning and community participation, instead
should strive toward scientific, locally suitable and sustainable design mechanisms considering the
voices of people affected by such breaching to generate a long term solution to the problem rather than
ad hoc expenditures with improper planning, objective and execution that further deepen the dsasters
related to coastal climate change one of the crucial being flooding and saline water inundation that
cause havoc to existence of life on Earth.
Fig. 35 Ad- hoc measures of embankment construction without any long term solution
Mangroves planted by
Panchayat along mud
embankments to hold
soil tightly , prevent soil
erosion and breakdown
of embankments
during high rising tides ,
storm and flood.
The channel through
which salt water
entered inland by
scouring uo the
embankments in the
Silpara area.
Extreme lack of
maintenance and
proper long term
solution regarding
construction of
embankments create
breakdown of them
and prove to be havoc
for people in the form
of devastating floods.
40 | P a g e
Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
2015
Role of Government and NGO’s in disaster mitigation







Organization of awareness camps and promotion of education on climate change and the
possible adaptive strategies that could be taken up in case of such a disaster.
Establishing synergy with local institutions, NGO’s and CBO’s to work hand in hand with them in
introducing participatory decision making among local communities and capacity building to
bridge the gaps between physical and mental power of individuals specially women.
Arrangement of emergency camps for health , shelter and food , provision of compensation in
terms of raw materials to people like good quality tents, seedlings of major cultivable crops,
clothes , pen and copies to children till a n adequate amount of time so that they could
reconstruct their houses , plant new seedlings etc. to help facilitate their journey to get back to
their ordinary livelihood after disaster.
Improvement of infrastructure and communication facilities so that in time to disaster
assistance can reach people through some route or the other and not get blocked before
reaching to people and to relief centres.
Assessment of damage caused to people in terms of life and property losses , arranging for
compensation schemes under various categories of losses , formulation of reconstruction and
reimbursement plans for people as well as infrastructures.
Working hand in hand with NGO’s I promoting alternative methods of farming, use of biofertilizers, switching to other income generation activities, chalking out natural solutions to
shudder down climate change impacts.
Coming up with long term sustainable solutions for combating disasters rather than mere erratic
expenditures in unproductive physical and human asset creation.
An NGO in Sagar, holding community meetings to involve local
women in decision making in carrying out adaptive practices in
their daily life.
Fig. 36


Over the years NGO’s have started to play a constructive role in development of lives and
livelihood of people
Provision of training to local farmers in methods of cultivation and farming, educating them
about nature of soil quality in those areas,.
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Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island




2015
Development of SHG’s, promotion of capacity building in them , promotion of awareness of
health, sanitation , income generation activities.
Conservation, protection and livelihood development of tribal people or backward classes in
rural areas through education in fields related to cultivation, medicinal herbs, school building,
capacity building etc.
Organization of training programs animal duckery, goatery, poultry, crab and prawn culture,
beetle leaf cultivation fish culturing in bamboo cages, horticulture, ornamental plant
conservation.
Organization of workshops on bio farming, bio pest management, rain water harvesting in areas
prone to water security threats and reproductive child health are to the farmers and rural
women of villages.
Plantation of mangroves led to formation of
solid strect ofmud and soil tracts in another
river side area of Sagar Island.
Fig. 37

Involvement in coastal zone protection through promotion of awareness programs related to
nature and form of disasters in present global scenario, thereby preparing people mentally to
face those challenges rather than surrendering to fateful calamities of nature.
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Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
2015
Conclusion
Exploring the numerous dimensions of livelihood survival in Sagar Island, the study findings show that
the light is till dim in the recent future for this island, unless constructive public and private partnerships
are developed in order to implement and execute properly planned and designed layout for efficient
and long term embankment construction and sufficient development of infrastructure, besides being a
healthy support to the communities for the reconstruction and rehabilitation programs. The NGO’s has
come forward with their assistance however, it is time for rapid, precautionary and effective measures
on part of government along with its several agencies to be more aggressive in fighting back the most
challenging issues of livelihood development, in areas affected by climate change all over the world, like
the one in Sagar Island of Indian Sunderbans.
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Impact of embankment breaching on livelihood at Sagar Island
2015
Acknowledgements
I express my heartfelt gratitude to the communities of people residing in Sagar Island without whom the
study could not have been completed. I also want to salute and thank Nature and especially Muriganga
River for allowing me to go through such a wonderful journey across the river for almost one hour,
delving into the depths of its vastness, magnanimity and power. This study conducted by SEED at Sagar
Island has given me a bunch of memories to be cherished throughout my life.
Thanking Mr. Mrinal Bhattacharya would at any time be inadequate compared to the enormous amount
of trust, support and guidance that he has showered on me from the beginning to the end of this study. I
want to thank you Sir, for giving this opportunity to an ordinary girl like me who did not have any
previous field experience in these areas and guiding me with all related reports relevant to this study.
You were the engine behind the completion of this report.
I want to also thank the administrative staff of Muriganga – 1 Gram Panchayat and Mr. Bankim Hazra for
the useful insights they brought to my attention regarding the study.
I express my sincere gratitude to Mr.Bhabananda Chatterjee, Mr. Somenath Bhattacharya and Mrs.
Kakoli Sensarma for their guidance in formulating an outline of the objective of the study and the
significant areas of interest.
I appreciate and thank the field facilitators Mrs., Anima Das, Mrs. Soma Bera and Mr. Tufan Barui for
their support. I express my love and affection to Soma Di and Anima Di for being with me throughout my
field work from morning till late afternoons. You both were the ones who made it even more
comfortable for me to communicate with the local people of Sagar. I would never forget the journey in
Sagar with both of you. You both are really special.
Besides, I want to thank Mrs. Rituporna Nath for accepting my first email to SEED to work as a volunteer
and sending me a positive reply. Being also the communicator through emails between me and SEED she
has helped me to continue my report by sending required files relevant to the study.
I also want to acknowledge Mr. Mohan Halder for the outer guideline provided to me by him regarding
the daily life and difficulties of people of Sagar and also for the way he used to accompany us to meet
the M.L.A of Sagar at appropriate timings.
Last but not the least; I want to thank the person to whom Mr. Mrinal Bhattacharya first introduced me
to. It’s none other than Mr. Bapan Halder to whom I owe my gratitude, respect and admiration. This
study could get completed by me only because of his presence. His guidance, care, support, presence,
and knowledge all added to my enrichment about numerous aspects of real life of the communities at
Sagar. He has always been there for me whether I needed him or not : from taking me to Sagar , calling
me to have lunch in time , making arrangements for the field work , meeting with the SHG’s , taking me
to the residential area of the Lodha tribes, the list goes on. I have no words to thank him. I owe a lot to
him concerning this report and my entire journey of working with SEED. Thank you a lot Bapan Da for
everything and my sincere good wishes to you and your family for the rest of your life. Thank you .
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