Proceedings of Trans-boundary Sundarban workshop (October 3 to 6, 2012)

TRANS BOUNDARY
SUNDARBAN WORKSHOP
Organised by:
State Project Management Unit (SPMU), ICZM Project, West Bengal
Institute of Environmental Studies & Wetland Management (ieswm)
WWF-India & (Environment Governed Integrated Organisation (EnGIO)
October 3-6, 2012
Prepared by:
WWF-India & Environment Governed Integrated Organisation (EnGIO)
Submitted to:
Institute of Environmental Studies & Wetland Management (IESWM);
Department of Environment; Government of West Bengal

TRANS BOUNDARY SUNDARBAN WORKSHOP
Published by
Environment Governed Integrated Organisation (EnGIO)
26/1 Ramesh Mitra Road, Kolkata 700025
www.engio.in
&
WWF-India, 68A Jodhpur Park, Kolkata 700068
www.wwfindia.org
January 2013
Printed by
M/s Phildon
3 Suresh Sarkar Road
Kolkata 700014
2
Organised by State Project Management Unit (SPMU), ICZM Project, West Bengal,
Institute of Environmental Studies & Wetland Management, WWF-India & EnGIO

Contents
Executive Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Prologue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Report on Inaugural Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Report on Technical Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
A. Geomorphology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
B. Agriculture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
C. Fishery and Biodiversity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
D. Public Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
E. Disaster Response. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
F. Tiger Conservation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
G. Communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Interface Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Formulation of Priority Matrix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Trans-boundary Proposal Concepts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Way Forward. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Annexture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Presenters’ Profile. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Other Participants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Copy of Presentations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Bon beyond border . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
3
Dr. Maminul Haque Sarker on ‘Geomorphology’
Prof. Kalyan Rudra on ‘Understanding the Fluvial Processes Operating in the Ganga Delta’
Prof. Pradip K. Sikdar on ‘Future Research Needs on Sustainable Ground Water Management of Sundarban’
Dr. ASM Shahidul Haque on ‘Collective Action to Reduce Climate Disaster Risks’
Anshuman Das on ‘Sunderban – the issues in Agriculture’
Prof. Dewan Ali Ahsan on ‘Fisheries Sector of Sundarbans Ecosystem- A Bangladesh perspective’
Prof. Aniruddha Mukhopadhyay on ‘Sunderban Resources and Prospects’
Dr. Soumitra Roy on ‘Public health in Sundarbans’
Mokhlesur Rahman on ‘Communities’ Observations and Disaster Perceptions in an Age of Climate Change’
Jude Henriques on ‘Managing Disasters in Sundarbans’
Kakoli Sen Sarma, ‘Disaster Management Preparedness in Indian Sundarban’
Md. Akbar Hossain and Md. Mozaharul Islam on ‘Tiger & Co-management’
Dr. Subrat Mukherjee on ‘Wildlife governance and conflicts’
M. Monwarul Islam, Mr. Abdul Maqueeb Majumdar and Mr. Manas Ghosh on Environment Communication
Jayanta Basu on ‘Communicating Sundarbans, Triggering thoughts’

BCAS: Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies
CCDRER: Collective action to reducing Climate Disaster Risks and Enhancing Resilience of the
CEGIS: Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services
DRR: Disaster Risk Reduction
EnGIO: Environment Governed Integrated Organisation
ICZM: Integrated Coastal Zone Management
IESWM: Institute of Environmental Studies & Wetland Management
IISWBM: Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Kolkata
IUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature
WWF India: World Wide Fund for Nature India
4
vulnerable coastal communities around the Sundarban
Abbreviation
NB: The authors have used various spellings of Sundarban, which have been kept unchanged in their pre-sentations.
However, in the main text and otherwise, the spelling ‘Sundarban’ has been used.

From the Indian side, participants included
officials from the Ministry of Environment and Forests,
Ministry of Finance, Doordarshan, Department of
Environment, Govt. of West Bengal, Directorate of
Forests, Govt. of West Bengal besides academicians
from Calcutta University, Jadavpur University &
Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management
(IISWBM) and other non-governmental organizations
of repute such as WWF- India, CARITAS, EnGIO, and
Welthungerhilfe, among others. ATN Bangla, a Bengali
language television channel, deputed a representative
from its Kolkata office as well.
The World Bank was represented by senior officials
from its offices in Washington DC, New Delhi, and
Dhaka.
Through 4th and 5th October’ 2012, seven
technical sessions were held on thematic areas like
Geomorphology, Agriculture, Fishery and Biodiversity,
Public Health, Disaster Response, Tiger Conservation,
and Media & Communication. These sessions were
preceded by an inaugural session where the broad aim
and objective of the workshop was introduced by the
panel of experts involved directly with the organisation
of the meeting.
In the concluding session, a matrix was formulated
with broad heads such as Policy, Research and
Implementation based on the technical presentations
and the comments/ discussions/ recommendations
triggered by those during earlier sessions. Subsequently,
joint concept notes on key issues as identified were
presented by trans-boundary teams being formed among
the participants.
All the proposed concepts were thoroughly
reviewed and it was agreed in general that those being
transformative and trans-boundary in nature, would
be pursued by the Sundarban Stakeholder Network.
5
Executive Summary
A two-day trans-boundary workshop cum meeting
on conservation of the pristine ecosystem of Sun-darban
across India and Bangladesh was organized on
board MV Paramahansa while cruising from Kolkata to
Sundarban and back during 3-6 October 2012. The en-deavour
was supported by the World Bank supported
Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Proj-ect
by the Department of Environment, Government
of West Bengal in association with non-profits WWF-India
and Environment Governed Integrated Organisa-tion
(EnGIO).
The main objective of the meeting was to cater
the formation of a Sundarban Stakeholder Network
consisting of independent experts, organizations,
academic and business institutes, media and other
relevant professional outfits; supplemented by relevant
government departments/organizations. Sundarban
Stakeholder Network proposes to play a pivotal role in
finding a bouquet of trans-boundary and transformative
solutions for conserving the unique natural heritage, and
to usher in sustainable development in the eco-region.
The meeting was attended by senior officials of
the Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh
as well as those from Government of India apart
from independent experts; representatives from non-governmental
organisations and academicians as well as
from media.
From Bangladesh side senior officials from the
Ministry of Environment and Forests, Forest Department,
Bangladesh Television (public broadcaster) attended the
meet apart from academicians from Dhaka University,
and representatives from various other organizations of
repute such as CEGIS, BCAS, and IUCN Bangladesh,
among others. Representatives from premiere private
audio-visual channels like ATN Bangla and Channel I
also attended the meeting.

It was also agreed upon that Sundarban Stakeholder
Network would have a dedicated secretariat; with
Indian and Bangladesh chapters. The World Bank,
in general, was supportive to the idea of a common
Sundarban Stakeholders Network secretariat and
expressed willingness to financially support the exercise
– running of the secretariats in two countries and the
key trans-boundary and transformative projects as
6
to be undertaken under the aegis and facilitation of
Sundarban Stakeholder Network - once the two national
governments concur to such an idea.
A six member committee (four from Bangladesh
and two from India) was formed to follow up the
discussed agendas; roadmap and also to maintain the
momentum.
Organised Organised by by State State Project Project Management Management Unit Unit ((SPMU), SPMU), ICZM ICZM Project, Project, West West Bengal,
Bengal
Institute Institute of of Environmental Environmental Studies Studies, & Wetland Management, WWF-India & EnGIO

& forest from India & Bangladesh participated.
Subsequently World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-India)
also catered a similar effort predominantly among
Subsequent to such effort of non-state actors to
bring independent experts, civil society organisations,
academicians and researchers as well as relevant
government organisations on a common platform
from both sides – as stated - in September 2011,
the governments of two countries signed number
of ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ (MoU) and
protocols, including an MoU on conservation of the
Sundarban and a protocol for conservation of Royal
Bengal Tigers in the Sundarban.
In light of the above, and to complement stated
government action, the need to formulate and formalise
a trans-boundary Sundarban Stakeholder Network has
to be appreciated. It is felt that such stakeholder network
of independent experts, organisations, academic and
business institutes, tourism bodies, and the media -
supplemented by relevant government departments/
organisations - is the need of the hour to find a bouquet
of solutions for conserving the unique natural heritage,
and to usher in sustainable development in the eco-region.
There is also a tremendous scope of learning from
each other and learning jointly to address the multiple
challenges exacerbated by global climate change.
The proposed stakeholder network aims to create
opportunities for enhanced sharing of information related
to - but not restricted to - biodiversity, geomorphology,
climate, freshwater flows, communication, public
health, natural disasters and related social dynamics
that can supplement conservation initiatives and
sustainable development in the Sundarban eco-region.
The network, over a period of time, targets to facilitate
better coordinated and improved policy decisions
7
Prologue
Sundarban is a pristine ecosystem, located at the
southern fringe of state of West Bengal within India
and Bangladesh, which harbours unparalleled biodiver-sity.
The ecosystem, considered one of the seven most
important wetlands globally, is internationally recog-nized
as one of the major climatic hotspots.
The eco-region, including the human inhabited
part of Indian Sundarban and the Sundarban Impact
Zone in Bangladesh, has faced several hazardous events
of natural origin in last few years. The events include
series of high intensity cyclones impacting the region
both in Bangladesh and West Bengal in India. Besides
such high intensity weather events; the eco-region is
also faced with other environmental deterrents – both
climatic and non-climatic - like relative sea level rise,
reduced flow of freshwater into the mangrove system,
very high population density, indiscriminate fishing and
prawn seed collection, degradation of forests and net
land loss due to erosion on the Indian side.
Experts have always felt that a trans-boundary
stakeholder interface – of independent experts,
organisations, academic institutes, business institutes,
tourism bodies, media and others supplemented by
relevant government departments/ organisations - is of
urgent requirement to find out bouquet of sustainable
solutions for conserving, protecting and restoring the
Sundarban ecosystem; as many of the problems are
common to both countries in roots and ramification.
Clearly the path to find the solution lies in visualizing
the eco-region as one bio-geographical entity.
With this focus, a high level joint stakeholder
initiative was organised in Kolkata in April 2010, to
which non-profit Environment Governed Integrated
Organisation (EnGIO) played a pivotal role along with
number of other civil society organisations from India
and Bangladesh, where the then ministers of environment
the academicians and professionals.

regarding the Sundarban eco-region on both sides of the
international border, not only to preserve the sensitive
eco-region but also to improve the quality of live and
livelihoods of the millions living in the Sundarban
delta.
operationalization of such network, a two-day trans-boundary
of Environment Studies and Wetland Management
(IESWM), Department of Environment, Government
of West Bengal under the aegis of its World Bank
supported Integrated Coastal Zone Management
project during 3-6 October 2012 - on board MV
Paramahamsa of Vivada Inland Waterways Ltd - while
cruising through the Indian Sundarban.
8
As a curtain raiser to the formulation and
meeting was organised jointly by non-profits
WWF-India and EnGIO along with Institute
The approach of the meeting was to discuss the
drivers of change (both anthropogenic and natural
including climate induced) in Sundarban and the
impacts of them on its ecosystem including the people
of the eco-region through the intervention of experts
across the border. The considered drivers included high
intensity weather events, change in salinity, relative
sea level rise, change in rainfall regime, development
deficit, human interventions (historical to current and
upstream to local) and tourism. The areas upon which
impacts were considered, include status of countering
disasters, embankment, fishery, agriculture, socio-cultural
condition/quality of life including displacement
and migration, livelihood, tiger and its habitat and
mangrove ecosystem. Communication including media
communication was considered an important cog in
successful operation of the network.
Bengal
Institute of Environmental Studies, Studies & Wetland Wetland Management Management, & WWF-India & EnGIO

a priority for the Bank and emphasized its commitment
to support generation and dissemination of applied
knowledge, capacity building and mobilization of
finances from Bank through the vehicles of bilateral and
multilateral agencies. He specifically promised financial
support to the process undertaken in the workshop
if the request for the same is routed through proper
governmental channels.
Ishtiaq Uddin Ahmad, Country Representative
for IUCN Bangladesh, called for supportive and
supplementary actions catering to policy change for
improving ecosystem and livelihood security as well
as promotion of stewardship for equitable benefit
sharing under Forest Department’s leadership. The
expert underlined the importance of civil society
participation in the process and emphasized that
due importance should be given on areas like socio-economics,
biodiversity conservation, ecological
productivity, environmental security, good governance,
communication, management shift, multiple use of
natural resources.
Sejal Worah, Director Programs – WWF India,
presented an overview of the projects where WWF-India
has been working at tandem with the government
9
Inaugural Session
The session was moderated by Somnath Bhattacha-rya,
Additional Project Director of ICZM proj-ect,
West Bengal. After a formal introduction of the
participants, the session began with the welcome speech
of Arijit Banerjee; Director of IESWM and Senior En-vironment
Officer of Govt. of West Bengal, who em-phasized
on conservation of Sundarban through joint
participation of India and Bangladesh. Banerjee under-lined
that the ecosystems cannot be divided and stressed
on the need to make use of opportunities of learning
from each other. He also observed the requirement to
traverse the path of inclusive planning to upgrade the
livelihood of people in Sundarban keeping in conten-tion
the aspirations and necessities of people from both
sides of border.
Tapas Paul, an expert from World Bank, referred
about the past initiatives and stressed on the need to
formalise and institutionalize the process of engagement
between various actors from the two countries. Pal dwelt
on the ongoing activities of World Bank in the region
across two countries; and promised to help action
oriented programmes; as emerged from the initiative.
Herbert Acquay, Chief South Asia; World Bank
office, Washington, spelt out that Sundarban has been
Arijit Banerjee
Somnath Bhattacharya, Jayanta Basu, Ishtiaq Uddin Ahmad,
Tapas Paul, Herbert Acquay, Sejal Worah

collaboratively; as proposed in the current Sundarban
project. She harped on the present development
model as pursued in general and stressed on the need
to revisit the same. On Sundarban, she emphasized on
the similarity of the situation and challenges in both
countries and argued for a development paradigm where
developmental debts may prove manageable.
Jayanta Basu, Director of Environment Governed
Integrated Organisation (EnGIO), explained at length
the germination of the idea of Sundarban Stakeholder
10
Network and pointed out the possible positive fallouts
of such an exercise. Basu dwelt on the model of the
collaborative action of non-state & state actors and
outlined the imperative importance of acting together in
case of Sundarban eco-region; which has a high degree
of environmental stake along with development deficit.
Basu along with Banerjee and other experts present on
dias released a publication called Bon Beyond Border;
which has showcased the trans-boundary meeting.
Bengal
Institute of Environmental Studies, Studies & Wetland Wetland Management Management, & WWF-India & EnGIO

Technical Session
A. Geomorphology
B. Agriculture
C. Fishery and Biodiversity
D. Public Health
E. Disaster Response
F. Tiger Conservation
G. Communication

A. Geomorphology
Bangladesh:
Title: Geomorphology
Dr. Maminul Haque Sarker
Deputy Executive Director (Development)
Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services
Dr. Maminul Haque Sarker oriented his presenta-tion
impacts the dynamics of Sundarban Delta. While the
geological formation of the Sundarban is of compara-tively
12
on the change in physical processes which
recent origin, the hydrology of Sundarban is dom-inated
by the freshwater flow from rivers Ganga, Brah-maputra
and Meghna; which exhibit very high seasonal
Effects of coastal polders on rivers
1. Polders in the southwest reduce the tidal prism,
which subsequently allows the sedimentation in the
river bed.
2. So-called tidal pumping process, brings the sediment
to the channels to the deposition prone areas.
3. Polders thus cause large-scale drainage congestions
in the tidal plains, along the northern periphery of
the Sundarban.
Effects of Reduced sweet water input
1. Due to upstream withdrawal of water in the Ganges,
the parent river of the Gorai and morphological
processes at the off-take, the sweet water has been
reduced into the Sundarban.
2. Reduction of sweet water caused the increase the
salinity.
variation in discharge.
He also pointed out that this estuary is an active
delta building one and is progressing towards east.
Delta has progressed about 50 km towards the sea and
the net accretion was 1700 sq km during the last 60
years. In the last two decades the net accretion in the
Meghna Estuary area is about 12 sq km / year. Rivers
are also continuously adjusting with the process of delta
building and are expected to be unstable in future.
In recent years, the Farakka Barrage, built in 1974
on the River Ganga within India, has also affected
freshwater flow into the Bangladesh part of the
Sundarban. His presentation also dealt with the effect
of polder in the rivers. It has been illustrated how the
river Daud Khali has been shrinking very rapidly since
polder was constructed in mid 1990. Polder reduces
the tidal prism allowing sedimentation in river bed and
the tidal pumping process brings the sediment to the
channels in deposite prone areas. Polders, hence, cause
large scale drainage congestions in tidal plains along the
northern periphery of the Sundarban. The main source
of sweet water into the Sundarban is the Gorai River.
Due to upstream withdrawal of water in the Ganges
(parent river of the Gorai) and morphological processes
at the off-take, the sweet water has been reduced in the
Sundarban causing increase in salinity.
Dr. Sarker concluded with the poser that “Can
Sundarban be able to adapt those changes induced by
human interventions in the system?” and remarked that
a detailed study regarding the disturbances in eco system
of Sundarbon caused by human Interventions is needed
for planning the sustainability of Sundarban.

SEDIMENT SUPPLY INTO THE DELTA
(June 2010- May 2011)
1. By the Ganga: 389 million tonnes.
2. By the Chotanagpur rivers: 5 million tonnes
3. By tidal push back from the estuary: 26 million
tonnes.
Professor Rudra pointed out the following
observations:
1. Ganga and Teesta rivers are migrating since 1787.
2. River Brahmaputra has migrated westward.
3. Main flow of Ganga is towards south east.
4. River Damodar has migrated south east.
5. Apex of delta has migrated south east.
the high tidal mark whereas the forested islands have a
different scenario as the sedimentation has been allowed
on them over the period of time. The whole dynamics
has triggered an imbalance in the delta.
Dr. Rudra pointed out that the approximate
sediment supply into the delta during June 2010 &
May 2011 was about 420 million tons shared by river
Ganga (389 million tons), Chotonagpur Rivers (5
million tons) & tidal push back from the estuary (26
million tons). The tidal effect in the basin reaches up to
Nabadwip in the north.
The expert highlighted the geomorphological
uncertainty of the delta by reminding that the course of
the river Ganga has been constantly changing with even
an oscillation to a scale of about 5 to 20 Km being found
at different sections.
Rudra recognized that the coastal area shows
explanation may be lying in a range of reasons
from subsidence of the land, silt trapping by manmade
13
India:
Title: Understanding the Fluvial Processes Operating in the Ganga Delta
Professor Kalyan Rudra
Geographer and River Expert
Member, West Bengal Pollution Control Board
Advisor, Dept. of Environment, Govt. of West Bengal
Professor Rudra began with a geomorphic prologue
of Sundarban. Sundarban, the largest delta in the
world, receives the highest sediment load globally but
still is not growing - rather sinking - from North-apex.
The Bengal Basin covers an area of 140975 sq km out of
which sub aqueous Delta and Bengal Delta cover 23362
sq km and 57506 sq km respectably. The flood in the
delta is sediment dispersal mechanism and – the expert
emphasised – that the people of rural Bengal, in general,
welcome low intensity flood as it leaves behind fertile
silt on agricultural field.
The expert pointed out that, quiet ironically, the
mechanism set into place to counter the low intensity
floods has actually magnified the problem. Since
early 19th century, the engineering intervention into
the fluvial regime of Bengal delta started with the
construction of embankments to achieve a freedom
from low intensity flood; which, in turn, has catered
to disturb the underlying hydrological system leading
to decaying of the rivers and constricting of the river
mouths causing high floods. At present there is about
10,500 Km long embankment which protects the
adjoining land from low intensity floods but impairs
natural sediment dispersal mechanism resulting in
distortion of natural drainage. In addition, due to
interception of drainage system by the roads & railways,
the floodable area gets expanded causing reduction in
food production and outbreak of vector borne diseases;
apart from bringing direct physical and livelihood
hardship of exposed populace.
Clearly the so called freedom from flood was
achieved at the cost of interrupted sediment dispersal
mechanism. The rain could not drain into the river. The
villages in Sundarban are generally two meters below
considerable encroachment of the sea. The possible

reservoirs, formation of submarine canyon in the Bay of
Bengal to increasing storm surge & tidal invasion from
the sea, global warming and thermal expansion of sea
water.
Dr. Rudra summarised that the possible explanations
of coastal retrogradation may be listed as:
Subsidence of the • land due to autocompaction
14
of the sediment.
• Silt-trapping by man made reservoirs and
wetlands of the delta.
• Continuous flush of the sediments into the
“Swatch of no ground”- the submarine canyon
of the Bay of Bengal.
• Increasing storm surge and tidal invasion from
the sea.
• Global warming and thermal expansion of sea-water.
The river expert concluded with the statement
that he does not have solution to combat the above; he
believes that we must leave meandering space for the
rivers. He observed that its perhaps high time to start a
detailed research as to the optimum space required for
the river and to position the embankment accordingly.
Organised by State Project Management Unit (SPMU), ICZM Project, West Bengal
Studies, Wetland Management &

India:
Title: Future Research Needs on Sustainable Ground Water Management of Sundarban
Objective of Future Research
The primary objective of any research on groundwater
system of Sundarban should be to build a framework for
sustainable groundwater development in the Sundarban
keeping in mind the subsurface hydro geochemical
conditions and possible impact due to sea level rise in the
future.
A two-phase research can be being carried out
First phase
• Building the conceptual hydrogeological model of
Sundarban
• Understanding the subsurface geology of the area
by drilling and constructing piezometer nests at
different depths at 5-6 locations on 4-5 N-S accessible
lines.
• Understand the hydro-geochemical processes of
the aquifer system based on major and trace ion
chemistry, isotope geochemistry water types, hydro-chemical
issues and multivariate statistical analysis
to define the interface between fresh and saline
zones
Second phase
• Numerical modeling of the groundwater system to
find out the recharge areas of fresh groundwater
under different pumping scenario.
it is recommended that water quality testing is done at
least twice in a year. The paper has dealt in detail how to
carry out the water quality measurement in field.
15
Professor Pradip K. Sikdar
Geologist, Department of Environment Management,
Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Kolkata
Prof. Sikdar, who mainly dealt with ground water
of the area, has focused on the non-availability of
sweet water in Indian part of Sundarban; bounded be-tween
21° 32’ & 22° 40’ North and 88° 05’ & 89° East
and covering an area of 9629 sq km with a Population
of 4.5 million (2001). The area comprises of 54 islands
and is located on the lower plain of the Ganga Delta.
It was pointed out that generally in the Indian Sundar-ban
brackish Zone extends down to 180 meters below
ground level and fresh ground water is only available
beyond the point. Generally potential fresh water bear-ing
aquifers occur within 180 meter to 360 meter below
ground level. The recharge mouth of the lower group
of aquifers is in Kalyani, Ranaghat, Santipur, Bongaon
& Gaighata areas. Tarakeswar, Nalikul, Mogra, Pandua
area serves as recharge zone of the aquifers in the east at
greater depth. Fresh water aquifers in shallow depths are
also observed but the storage capacity of such aquifers
cannot sustain for a long time if water is drawn exten-sively.
It was suggested that the drinking / domestic tube
wells may be placed at a deeper level. The farmers may also
be made aware and advised to judiciously use the ground
water for irrigation as the source is limited. Ground water
utilization structures in this area have to be constructed
giving due consideration to the regional hydrodynamic
and hydro chemical scenario. This requires scientific
management & planning for utilization of ground water
in Sundarban. As the area is prone to frequent flooding,
it is necessary that drinking water tube wells should be
constructed on raised platforms (1.5 to 2 meter above
the highest flood level), especially in flood shelters and
strategic locations, so that flood affected people can get
uncontaminated water from the tube wells. However

B. Agriculture
Bangladesh:
Title: Collective Action to Reduce Climate Disaster Risks
Dr. ASM Shahidul Haque
Team leader, CCDRER Project
Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS)
Salt water intrusion into the ground and recurrent
droughts has caused substantial damage and loss
to agriculture and allied sectors. The previous climate
change triggered incidents were also not favourable for
agriculture, fishing and other natural resource-based
livelihood practices I Sundarban.
Dr. Haque cited the importance of having updated
scientific knowledge across borders. He stressed that the
collective actions are required to reduce climate catered
risks and enhance resilience of the vulnerable coastal
communities around Sundarban. He also stressed that
introduction of salt tolerant varieties and practicing drip
irrigation may boost the resilience of the community.
The expert emphasised that the role of a good civil
society outfit is to pick some good examples across
borders and replicate. The community will replicate the
examples if they find the practices useful and sustainable;
opined Haque.
The expert pointed out the need to undertake
following actions to strengthen the capacity and
resilience of a vulnerable community:
Workshop; Training; Demonstration; Awareness;
Alternative livelihood; Low-cost and renewable energy
options; Promotion of agro-forestry and social forestry;
Wider Partnership & Networking
Dr. Haque also prioritized the climatic risks affecting
16
Recommendations:
Adaptation in Agriculture in Bangladesh
1. Adaptation measures in the contexts
2. Promotion of climate resilient crops (salinity tolerant,
submergence and drought tolerant varieties) of
declining yields in coastal areas and
3. Short duration and early crops
4. Change in cropping patterns in the context of
changes in by extremes (cyclones, tidal surge,
seasons and weather patterns)
5. Better farm management through new information
dissemination, motivation and flood and water
logging),
6. Reduction of sweet water caused the increase the
salinity.
crop production system as follows:
Very severe risk: Salinity, Tidal surges, Drought, Erratic
rainfall, Tidal flood, River erosion
Severe risk: Temperature variation, Salinity, Drought,
Short duration of winter season, Water-logging
Moderate risk: Tidal surges, Heat flow, New weeds,
Pests & diseases
Low risk: Cold wave, Soil wetness, Fogginess

Adaptive Principles
1. Use of locally adapted plants, animals etc. reduce the
need for high external inputs.
2. Improving drainage system, mulch farming and
cover crop will help reducing salinity.
3. Mixed/relay/rotation cropping of plants with
different root depth & structure, resulting in optimal
utilization of water & nutrient & higher resilience
against environmental stress.
4. Irrigation using surface water.
5. Biological soil inputs, which enhance capacity of soil
to store water, carbon & nutrients reducing need for
synthetic chemicals / soil nutrients
As per records, there has been a significant increase
in the settlement from 1226 sq km to 1666 sq km
during the period 2001-2008, while the available
agricultural land has been reduced from 2149 sq km to
1691 sq km. This land use shift, along with the growth
of population, implies an increasing threat to food
security in Sundarban. Multi-storied agro-forestry is the
need of the hour in Sundarban as stressed by the expert.
It was suggested that the model should be adopted by
government agencies. Projects on increasing agriculture
resilience should integrate animal, bird, fish, insects,
micro organism. The approaches developed should
integrate local knowledge and DRR approaches.
17
India:
Title: Sunderban – The issues in Agriculture
Anshuman Das
Regional Project Coordinator
Integrated Farming at Welthungerhilfe
Das expressed the concern of rising expenditure in
cultivation and cited a common comment from
the farmers: “The profit is hardly seen. Yield can be
more if I can be in a position to spend more”.
The expert explained the characteristics of
Sundarban agriculture and cited the impact caused at
micro level by the blocking of number of channels to
facilitate shrimp farming. The channel dynamics (inflow
and outflow of water) has been severely impacted as a
result; claimed the expert. Low infiltration rate and
poorly aerated soil poses a serious problem of water
conditions vis-à-vis agriculture during at least four
months in Sundarban. The rainfall has also become
very unpredictable nowadays and production of kharif
crop is completely destabilised. Increasing frequency
and intensity of storms coupled with warmer winter
and summer are stated to be posing a serious threat to
agriculture in Sundarban.
Following are the characteristics of agriculture in
Sundarban:
• Moderate to high salinity
• Low infiltration and poorly aerated soil
• Disruption of natural drainage system
• Water takes long time to recede
• Water table is low, more sallow pump in recent
years for boro paddy
• Chemical intensive farming
• Small landholding
• Poor infrastructure

C. Fishery and Biodiversity
Bangladesh:
Title: Fisheries Sector of Sundarbans Ecosystem — A Bangladesh perspective
“Science knows no country and we cannot divide the eco-system”
Ahsan pointed out that Sundarban ecosystem,
particularly the aquatic resources, has been increasing
falling prey to range of pollutants such as oil spillage,
heavy metals and agrochemicals. Increase in temperature
and sea level rise are also seriously affecting the
Sundarban ecosystem and bio-diversity. Bio-indicator
species like Dinophysis norvegica points to moderately
polluted water quality of the estuary.
Brackish water and marine species are dominant in
Sundarban. Prof. Dewan cited and explained the ecology
of Hilsa and threats related to it. He pointed that 79% of
the Hilsa stock is shared between India and Bangladesh.
Owing to threats like over harvesting and climate related
stress (delayed rainfall), the Hilsa stock is believed to
be depleting but there have been limited studies on the
standing stock of Hilsa and other aquatic fish.
He also discussed the dynamics of effective
regulation practices in Sundarban for protection of
Hilsa and the effect of same on fishermen working in
the region.
18
Prof. Dewan Ali Ahsan, PhD
Chairman, Department of Fisheries
University of Dhaka
reminded Prof. Dewan at the very beginning.
Recommendations:
Sustainable fishery management
1. Hilsa is a highly migratory trans-boundary fish, so
joint initiative (Bangladesh, India and Myanmar) is
essential.
2. Temporary ban of Jatka and brood Hilsa fishing
(during peak spawning season) should be maintained
not only in Bangladesh but also in India to maintain
the optimum stock.
3. Joint action may be taken to control diseases.
4. Stock assessment studies.
5. Department of Fisheies: capacity building for
strong monitoring system-Joint cell for Sundarbans
ecosystem conservation
6. E-flow concept
7. Awareness building programme using media
8. Gear restriction at downstream so that fish can easily
migrate to upstream
Indiscriminate collection of prawn seedlings
(through push and drag nets) is also impacting the
fisheries. Any development of polder around the system
would impact the breeding cycle of fishes and would
have a trailing effect on fishery sector of Sundarban.

Thrust areas of research can be:
1. Documentation
2. Diversity and Stability
3. Ecology
4. Economic evaluation
5. Behaviour/ Ethology
6. Bio prospecting and
7. Adaptation Studies
Dr. Mukhopadhyay also stressed on medicinal and
pharmaceutical interface of the mangrove resources.
Diverse algal population can be served both as a source
of nutrition and pharmacologically important bioactive
molecules.
19
India:
Title: Sunderban Resources and Prospects
Professor Aniruddha Mukhopadhyay
Head & Associate Professor,
Department of Environmental Science,
University of Calcutta
“....It is the quality of species which determines the stabil-ity
of the ecosystem. A detailed account of the keystone spe-cies
is required to be conducted....” was pointed out at the
outset.
Dr. Mukhopadhyay explained about the ecosystem
dynamics and interplay of biodiversity groups with
special reference to crabs. Shrimps and prawns constitute
the most important component of fishery in the zone.
The most important crustaceans’ species are Penaeus
mondon and Macrobarachium rosenbergi.
Dr. Mukhopadhyay also stressed that nekton and
benthic molluscan community and fishery are affected
due to the change in plankton community. It was also
observed that the planktonic community is changing
due to the change in physico-chemical variation of
ambient aquatic phase. The ambient aquatic phase is
governed by various factors like salinization, alteration
of pH etc.
diversity: needs
economic valuation
Monitoring the impact
of climate change
Integrated coastal and
marine management
Highly ecological,
chemical and bio-logical
Sunderban
Community
Participation
Needs in mangrove management

D. Public Health
Bangladesh:
Title: Public health in Sundarbans
Dr. Soumitra Roy
Public Health Expert
Consultant, UNICEF
Dr. Soumitra Roy, a public health consultant asso-ciated
the public health scenario in the Indian part of Sundar-ban.
among most of the islanders have made the routine
public health services inadequate and largely ineffective.
Roy reminded that out of the 19 blocks in Indian Sun-darban,
basic facilities; eight are remote and severely underde-veloped
accessibility and somewhat better living conditions.
People in the delta are exposed to various geo-climatic
poor infrastructure and uncertainties of livelihood.
Chronic poverty aggravates the vulnerability to health
risks. Roy drew a grim picture of Sundarban’s public
heath scenario with examples cited from Gosaba and
Patharpratima blocks, where on average one public
health centre (PHC) is catering to the health needs of
110,000 people, which is clearly unsustainable.
Women and children are stated to be most vulnerable.
The public health expert cited that for delivery, a woman
has to travel on an average 8 kms consuming 4-5 hours
of time with a huge physical strain. The travelling is a
nightmare after dusk and anytime during the monsoon.
Moreover in an inaccessible terrain, often likes
of boats and van rickshaws are required to ferry the
emergency patients; which adds to the risk. Naturally
it is no surprise that the institutional delivery in
Sundarban was about 29 % in 2007-08, way below of
the state average of 40.1% to 43.1%. The expert pointed
out that on ground the health programme like IMR,
MMR, Geriatric care and ICDS do not exist in the area.
20
with Unicef, has given a presentation on
Extreme geographical barriers and abject poverty
six are extremely inaccessible and lack even the
and remaining five are in main land with greater
hazards in addition to the stress catered by
Short term measures
• Training for Dais (local women helping in home
delivery) to support ‘home delivery’
• Improvement in quality of services through RMPs
• Strengthening of ASHA initiative of Govt.
• Advocacy with PRI to provide one hand pump
for every 250 people and sanitary toilets with all
families
• Strategic communication planning for home based
diarrhoea management
• Ensuring 100% immunisation to reduce infant deaths
related to measles (will be a part of ASHA initiative
but Govt. to ensure service delivery)
• Increase ANC coverage to reduce maternal mortality
Infrastructure bottleneck ranges from human resource
to power supply. Dr Roy stated that the majority of
PHCs and BPHCs are understaffed, and the electricity
supply is limited; resulting in underperformance and
underutilization of even the existing facilities. Moreover,
he stressed on absenteeism and unaccountability that
hurt credibility and reliability of curative services
offered by the government.
Delivering a broad picture of the public health in
Sundarban, Dr. Roy highlighted that more than 50%
children (0-3 years) are malnourished. He pointed
out significant number of malnourished children
chronically suffer from diarrhea or respiratory tract
infections or skin rash and receive partial symptomatic
treatment mainly from local quacks. Most importantly,
child vaccination against common dangerous infections
is often affected due to non-availability of vaccines in
the sub centres. In Sundarban, the rate of absolute non-

Long term recommendations
1. Advocacy with Govt. to improve institutional health
services
2. Advocacy with PRI to undertake greater role in public
health sphere
3. Community managed communication for effective
behaviour change
4. Supporting communities to improve their livelihood
system
5. Support to improve nutrition of the mother and
child
6. Support to improve drinking water and sanitary
toilet facilities
7. Making all stakeholders aware of climate change
issues and its impact
Community b 1. ased ground water conservation
2. PPP model for critical curative care
3. Effective communication on preventive health
4. Livelihood adaptation in sync with the climate
21
coverage of vaccination is as high as 7% while in the
entire West Bengal the same is about 3%.
Poverty and poor infrastructure compelled the
delta people to rely on Registered Medical Practitioners
(RMPs) or quacks. Apart from the fact that the non
qualified doctors provide friendly and personalized
behaviors and serve on credit; they are often the ones
available during emergency. Dr. Roy also informed that
around 22% of 31210 families do not have sanitary
toilet facilities in Patharpratima block and at any given
point of time 5% tube wells are non-functional while
6% of all diseases are diarrhoea (WHO, 2006). High
rate of hookworm infestation contributes to anemia.
Dr. Roy stressed to strengthen the ASHA initiative
of Govt. and strategic communication planning for
home based diarroea management to be initiated. The
expert also insisted on the need of 100% immunization
to reduce infant deaths related to measles as well as
heightened anti natal coverage (ANC) to reduce
maternal mortality.
On the broad remedial part, Dr Roy stressed on
an array of short term and long term measures and also
suggested that the following research objectives can be
initiated in Sundarban:
issues
change

E. Disaster Response
Bangladesh:
Title: Communities’ Observations and Disaster Perceptions in an
M. Mokhlesur Rahman
Center for Natural Resource Studies (CNRS), Bangladesh
Rahman began with the basic premise that disaster
well-being those reinforce – and magnify - one other.
He asserted that the occupational groups have different
impact perceptions about climate related risks.
The impacts of reduced rain, drought and salinity
have led to convert canals/ rivers to crop lands/ fish-shrimp
fishes.The expert pointed out that more often than not,
the local community stands unaware about the actual
22
Age of Climate Change
risk and climate change are two threats to human
pond and cause major damage to freshwater
Recommendations:
• Ecosystem-based approach (integrated NRM-DRR-CCA)
with nested CBOs with effective networking
and consensus building may open up conduits for
large ecosystems like “Sundarban” management
• Trans-boundary measures are the necessary
conditions for success of some types of local
adaptation (e.g. uncertainty of future upstream
water supplies threatens stability of local adaptation,
technology and data sharing, joint management,
etc.)

inundation had polluted agricultural lands, ponds;
damaged houses; killed livestock; and led to mauling
of mangroves and other plantations, freshwater fish ,
shrimps. As a consequence, the shrimp faming has come
to a halt for over two years and Chakbara now faces
severe livelihood crisis. Rahman also observed that poor
management of Sundarban fisheries including in its
three sanctuaries (non-weather stressor) has accelerated
decline in fisheries production and biodiversity.
Bangladesh researcher reminded that high level of
spatial variability exists even within such small coastal
area in terms of livelihoods, disaster and climate change
issues. Hence he argued in favour of an ecosystems based
approach with effective networking and consensus
building to open up conduits for the management
of large ecosystems like Sundarban. Rahman also
emphasised the need of trans-boundary measures
for successfully adopting relevant local adaptations
(uncertainty of future upstream water supply threatens
stability of local adaptation), technology and data
sharing, joint management and likewise.
23
cause and effect relationship regarding the phenomena
such as ‘global warming’ and ‘climate change’. In this
context he referred the terms such as climate-resilience
(transformative adaptation), embankments, drainage,
freshwater availability, good governance, etc.
The expert opined that to have a sustained impact
on the livelihoods of the people, all the stakeholders
should come in a common platform and develop
integrated management practices. Rahman cited two
case studies - one on the village Fultala and other on
the village, Chakbara – to highlight the negative impact
of climate change on socio-economic conditions of
exposed populace.
According to Rahman, Fultala (primarily a rice
farming village) had experienced decline of rice,
vegetables and also drop in freshwater fish catch mainly
due to erratic rainfalls and prolonged drought. After
Aila, the misery only manifolded. The expert also
referred how Chakbara village, a Shrimp farming village
and dependent on Sundarban rivers and lower estuary
for livelihoods, has suffered severely during and after
Aila. He explained how the prolonged saline water
Organised by State Project Management Unit (SPMU), ICZM Project, West Bengal Bengal,
Institute of Environmental Studies, Studies & Wetland Wetland Management, Management, WWF-WWF-India India & & EnGIO
EnGIO

India:
Title: Managing Disasters in Sundarbans
Jude Henriques
International Disaster Management Consultant
Caritas Germany
Mr. Jude Henriques stressed on developing proper
be communicated to the local community during disas-ters.
the functioning of a community or a society causing
widespread human, material, economic or environmen-tal
losses which exceed the ability of the affected com-munity
He explained the disaster crunch mode which
states that a disaster happens only when a hazard affects
vulnerable people. This model shows that vulnerability
(pressure), rooted in socio-economic and political
processes, has to be addressed (released) to reduce
the risk of disaster. The expert, with experience of
working in both Indian and Bangladesh Sundarban,
broadly stressed on involving communities to counter
the impacts from natural disaster. He explained at
length the vulnerability of the area from high intensity
tropical cyclones; expected to hit and cause damage to
Sundarban. According to several reports, such events
only stand to increase. The disaster manager especially
talked about experience of Aila which had devastated
24
early warning system and focussed on how it can
He defined a “Disaster” as a serious disruption of
or society to cope with its own resources.
Components of early warning system
1. Make sure that there is an early warning system
in place understood by your communities. Early
warnings can be delivered via radio, television,
mobile phones, or even door-to-door notice
2. Make sure that the emergency plan is working
3. Ensure that people understand what they will need
to do before and after a hurricane. (People may have
to wait for 2-3 days after a hurricane before outside
help arrives.)
Indian Sundarban. He explained how some of the
extremely severe cyclones had barely given a miss to
Indian Sundarban apart from Aila and emphasised how
both the community and administration presently stand
extremely under-prepared if such a high intensity cyclone
actually hits Indian Sundarban. Henriques focused on
the need of better quality of information sharing as well
as preparedness to face any disaster. However, disaster
management consultant pointed out new age livelihood
practices like using tin roofs instead of previously used
thatched roofs are detrimental for cause.
He further explained the ignorance of the
community towards early warning that has always led
them to be the victims of disaster. So what nations can
do at its best to be more protected is to raise community
awareness about high intensity storms and the risks
associated with these storms.

both bare and vegetated. The expert stressed the need on
finding more vulnerable coastal habitat areas through
GIS analysis and risk assessment & undertakes priority
actions in such habitats.
In order to arrest oil spill, the geologist highlighted
the importance of disseminating knowledge and
coordination with the respective departments
beforehand so that impact of such disasters get buffered.
Like the earlier experts, she too advocated the urgent
need of the cross boundary interaction and support to
tackle various disasters.
25
India:
Title: Disaster Management Preparedness in Indian Sundarban
Kakoli Sen Sarma
Geologist and Remote Sensing specialist, SPMU,
ICZM project of Institute of Environmental Studies & Wetland Management Kolkata
Kolkata based Geologist stressed on the importance
of using a well calibrated modelling of trajectory
of oil spill and suspended pollutant in the Indian parts
of Sundarban. The expert identified the role of enhanced
trade including both import and export from Kolkata
Port Trust as a possible reason. She pointed out that in
a complicated estuarine system as in Sundarban, tidal
current alone is enough to drift the oil slick/ pollutant;
maximizing threat though water current and wind nor-mally
stand out as key variables for modelling in marine
environment.
Sen Sarma reminded mangrove, both dense and
thin, is prone to high risk followed by intertidal flat;
Organised by State Project Management Unit (SPMU), ICZM Project, West Bengal Bengal,
Institute of Environmental Studies, Studies & Wetland Wetland Management, Management, WWF-WWF-India India & & EnGIO
EnGIO

F. Tiger Conservation
Bangladesh:
Title: Tiger & Co-management-Bangladesh Forest Department
Md. Mozaharul Islam explained the tiger ecology
Gazette notification in this regard and approved legal
formation of the co-management organizations. The
government has also approved to provide 50 per cent of
the revenue raised from visitor entry fee from PAs to the
Co-management Organization (CMC).
Based on the success of interventions in Bangladesh
and taking account the limitation of forest conservation
and management, the Government of Bangladesh
(GOB) has decided to adopt the Co-management
approach and to involve local people in the natural
resource conservation and management through
collaboration and active participation. The basis of such
collaboration and participation would be “equitable
sharing of benefits”.
26
Md. Akbar Hossain and Md. Mozaharul Islam
Forest Department, Bangladesh
in Sundarban. He also stressed the co-manage-ment
in Sundarban and its status in Bangladesh Sundar-ban.
The Ministry of Environment and Forest has issued
Recommendations:
1. Behaviour study is a necessity to make appropriate
approaches. To enrich knowledge on tiger behaviour
more research is needed. It may open more avenues
for tiger conservation initiatives.
2. Joint tiger census
3. Selection of best practices and protocols
4. Allowing the civil society to assume ever more
important roles and responsibilities
Md. Akbar Hossain stressed that without
participation of local people, it is extremely difficult to
manage the Sundarban efficiently and ensure its long-term
sustainability.
The experts pointed out the need to follow a
common protocol in case of tiger census.

Recommendations:
1. Research on tiger ethology and straying behaviour.
2. Provision of alternative livelihood programs to
3. Restocking of prey base
4. Joint tiger census
5. Selection of best practices and protocols
6. Allowing the civil society to assume ever more
27
India:
Title: Wildlife governance and conflicts
Dr. Subrat Mukherjee
Field Director, Sundarban Tiger Reserve
Dr. Mukherjee explained the protection regime
and administrative structure of Sundarban for-ests.
Government of West Bengal has been practicing
wildlife governance in Sundarban. The governance in-cludes
intensive protection of flora and fauna, mitiga-tion
of conflicts, eco development works, ecotourism
and research, monitoring and evaluation.
Dr. Mukherjee explained the tiger conservation in
Sundarban and how JFMCs ( Joint Forest Management
Committees) has played an important role towards
conservation. He also explained that how alternative
livelihood programs have helped the fringe village
community to show a positive attitude towards tiger
conservation claiming that also not a single retaliatory
killing in Sundarban has happened for the last 11 years.
Dr. Mukherjee also explained the management
practices in Sundarban to reduce conflict both inside
and outside forest. He also cited the different research
(radio collaring, alternative livelihood programmes etc.)
being undertaken in Sundarban.
Echo-Development Works
1. Ponds
2. Smokless Chullah
3. Irrigation Channel (In Km.)
4. Medical Camps
5. Awareness and Training Camps
6. Deep Tubewells
7. Nursery (In Ha. = 2500 Seedlings)
8. Fuel Wood Plantation (Ha.)
9. Fruit Plants
10. Brick Path (Km.)
11. Solar Lights
12. Solar Lanterns
13. Micro-Planning Trainings
14. Study Tours
15. Community Centres
16. Jetty
17. Vocational Trainings.
reduce dependencies on natural resources
important roles and responsibilities
7. Indo-Bangladesh collaborative platform

G. Communication
Bangladesh:
M. Monwarul Islam, Deputy Director General (News and Programme) Bangladesh TV
Abdul Maqueeb Majumdar, Director Channel I
Manas Ghosh, Correspondent ATN Bangla
The Bangladeshi experts have a joint session on
general and Sundarban related communication in par-ticular.
Mr. M. Monwarul Islam, Deputy Director General
(News and Programme) Bangladesh TV stated that
environment is considered extremely important area
of communication but rued the lack of commercial
viability. However he insisted that BTV used to carry
environment related programme in non-prime time
slots. He expressed hope that the stated platform
might provide them an opportunity to share inputs on
Sundarban related programme software in especially in
the light of MoU signed between India and Bangladesh
for co-operative work on Doordarshan Indian (Official
audio visual channel of India) and BTV Bangladesh.
28
various facets of environment communication in
The representative from private media houses
also echoed their respective commitment to showcase
environmental programmes. Maqueeb Majumdar,
director of Channel I, shared that Channel I has been
telecasting programme on environment and nature
for a long period of time despite not receiving much
financial support but insisted that the programme
has been well received within the wider audience in
Bangladesh. Manas Ghosh , the correspondent of ATN
Bangla, pointed out that their channel generally gives
reasonable importance to environment and covers
environment and climate change related issues widely.
Ghosh reminded that ATN Bangla has been part of the
initiative for building the proposed platform since it
was visualized in 2009.

Recommendation and resolution
1. A trans-boundary Sundarban Media Platform to be
pushed.
2. Follow up on the collaboration issue with both
India and Bangladesh nodal persons (as per the
MoU signed between Indian and Bangladesh on
communication television channel)
3. Explore options to prepare programme software at
trans-boundary level, based on specific issues like
Status of island, Sea level rise, Migration, Fishing etc.
4. Generation of local and global media communication
path on Sundarban
5. Document case studies regarding trans-boundary
Sundarban
A joint media platform under the aegis of Sundarban
stakeholder network was proposed as a vehicle to leap-frog
The session is a joint one and subsequently experts from both the countries interacted synergistically. The
professionals reached at consensus that communication is a low hanging fruit and might be the appropriate
instrument to roll on the initiative. Possibilities of undertakings of various collaborative trans-boundary media
initiatives were discussed. Tapas Paul, environment expert from World Bank, pointed out that it may be a good
idea to showcase Sundarban linked popular film in television with insertion of small Sundarban related discussion
and awareness snippets in between.
29
India:
Title: Communicating Sundarban triggering thoughts
Jayanta Basu
Environment Communications Expert
Director, Environment Governed Integrated Organisation
Faculty, Dept. of Env. Sciences; Dept of Journalism and Mass Communication, Calcutta University
Basu dealt at depth regarding both social and media
communication especially in the context to Sun-darban.
He suggested that different kind of communica-tion
model may be attempted based on a matrix of target
audience and target agenda. He clarified while in social
communication, the targeted broad outputs include be-havioural
changes leading to more adaptive population
as well as enhancing the quality of life per se; in case of
media communication, the structure should be a two way
mode between the communicators and target popula-tion.
As Sundarban is at the hotbed of climate change be-ing
recognised by international organization, media com-munication
should also target national and international
audience, he suggested. Various formats of media com-munication,
local vernacular paper, channel, short audio
visual focus imbibing with mainstream media, global
exposure through website and portal, etc. are proposed.
It was pointed that no story of Sundarban would be com-pleted
unless it covers both India and Bangladesh.
the issue.
Remarks

The Interface Session has been divided into three
parts –
Based on the suggestions/ 1. recommendations /
30
observations shared based on the presentations
made during the technical sessions, a matrix was
formatted under three broad heads – Policy,
Research and Implementation
2. Based on the matrix, as prepared, formulation
of key trans-boundary project ideas and follow
up discussion on the ideas proposed
3. Discussion in general about the way forward
Interface Session
1. Formulation of Priority Matrix
POLICY
• Joint task force to be constituted by the governments to deal with potential threats with specific
reference to 1) increasing salinity, 2) increasing cyclonic storm, 3) poaching, 4) impediments
in the mechanism of sediment dispersal. The task force should meet stakeholders of both
countries at least twice a year.
• A mechanism for thorough exchange of knowledge on agricultural methods between India
and Bangladesh
• Along the line of coastal zone management, we should consider river flood plain
management
• Argue for more space for rivers
• Educate planners about the adverse impact of putting up embankments
• With rise in SL can there be an initiative to advocate livelihood changes for the people of
Sundarban?
• Financing water harvesting structures through government programmes like National
Employment
• Guarantee programmes
• Focus on strengthening the education system and include incorporation of Disaster Risk
Management and Climate Change Adaptation in school curricula (and at Panchayat level)
• Research findings to inform policy making
• For Sundarban, engineers, social scientists and biologists need to work in tandem
• Review of existing policies, governance and strategies related to the Sundarban on both sides
and its relevance (e.g. co-management) with a view to developing Integrated policy for the
Sundarban
• Decision-making systems between two countries

How the space for the river should be maintained in the context • of human population explosion?
• If embankments are not the solution, how can we deal with the short-term immediate
Geomorphology
• What could be the possible alternative approaches to solving the problems posed by the
• Joint research on erosion and accretion for Sundarban as one integrated whole
• What would be the impact of extreme (storm) events on geomorphology (erosion and accretion)
• Freshwater & sediment budgets of the entire Sundarban and its impacts on the delta system (in
• Studying east-west cross sections to understand relations between physical processes and
Groundwater & Salinity
• What would a management tool to sustain deltaic fresh water aquifer be like? Would recycling of
Fisheries
• What would be the ideal mix in terms of fish varieties and package of practices for inland fisheries
31
RESEARCH
Joint, synergistic and applied and innovative
River Dynamics
What kind of management plan should we follow?
problems?
• Social and economic costs of retreating embankments?
• Joint numerical modelling of the BoB
geomorphological processes?
vis-a-vis gradual change by climate change, tidal and fresh water flow?
light of planned infrastructure projects)
biodiversity
waste water by construction of water harvesting pits help?
• Does groundwater contribute to lowering of salinity in inner estuary?
• Is there any reverse gradient of saline zone being identified in the delta?
Agriculture
• Can rain water harvesting and land levelling for sustainable agriculture be an option?
• Research on salt-tolerant crops
• What is the status of availability of saline-resistant rice varieties in Sundarban?
• Is agriculture in the Sundarban still viable? What are the possible alternatives to agriculture?
in Sundarban
• Stock assessment of economically valuable fish species on both sides
• Social and ecological and goemorphological impacts of aquaculture across the Sundarban
• Impacts of ocean acidification on fisheries
• Is climate change impacting fish/Hilsa production and its habitat?

32
Biodiversity & Wildlife
There is a gradient/differential in biodiversity in the western • and eastern parts of the delta
especially in terms of macroflora, avifauna and protein biomass which needs to be recognised.
• Assess the quantum of nitrogenous and phosphatic fertilizers being discharged into the estuarine
system by means of agriculture run-off and quantify the impact of the process in the creeks and
upon aquatic life
• Correlating deltaic/fluvial processes to biodiversity gradient is important and the current
knowledge gap needs to be bridged.
• How physical changes in the coast affect biological resources including livelihood?
• (Systematic monitoring of tiger populations across the delta)
• Biodiversity inventorisation
• Impacts of salinity on species composition
• Wildlife diseases (particularly tigers)
Climate Change
• Are impacts of human interventions of the past being passed off as climate change impacts?
• How long can local crop varieties cope with changing climate conditions?
• Study of Climate induced migration (inter and intra country) vis-a-vis the preparedness of
community to counter disasters
Public health
• Research on migration and trafficking which have major impact on health and livelihood in
Sundarban
• Understanding of the health delivery system and the health seeking behaviour of the population
living either in Sundarban or within its impact zone in India and Bangladesh
• Impacts of climate change on vector borne diseases
Disaster Management
• Review effectiveness of EWS on both sides (including engagement and role of communities in
disaster management)
• What is common and what is the difference between Indian and Bangladesh Sundarban?
• Validation of community knowledge through field based participatory action research
Communication
• Formation of a Joint Media Communication Platform leading to focussed documentation.
• Prepare programme on key issues of trans-boundary Sundarban issues related to climatic impacts,
develpmental stress, livelihoods, infrastructure and wild life.

Title Sector Applications Leading Institutions Cost /
33
Period
Assessment and evaluation of
risk and vulnerability of coastal
fishery resources in Sundarban
with special reference to
anthropogenic and climate
change impacts
Fishery
Application of the study will centre around ecological and
toxicological monitoring of Sundarban ecosystem
Calcutta University and University
of Dhaka
2 million USD /
5 years
Study of Climate induced
migration (inter and intra
country) vis-a-vis the prepared-ness
of community to counter
disasters
Migration
Advocacy with Govt. for effective policy and planning on inter
and intra country migration
Enhancing community preparedness and resilience against
disaster
Bangladesh Centre for Advance
Studies
Jadavpur University
EnGIO
Institute of Social Studies
IISWBM
IOM
IUCN, Bangladesh
3 million USD /
2 years
Formation of a joint media
communication platform lead-ing
to focussed documentation
Media &
communication
Help govts reviewing existing Sundarban policies and practices
Influence to generate appropriate response from Govts.
Acting as constructive pressure group
Increase community and other stakeholder awareness
B TV
DD
ATN
Channel i
Local small media outfits / groups
5 million USD /
2 years
Standardization of Census
Methodology and Systematic
Monitoring of Tiger
Tiger/wildlife
Joint census along the border areas.
Supplement the Actions towards the accomplishment of Protocol
and MoU signed between two countries.
Better Management of Tiger in the Sundarban.
Capacity Development.
Enhanced collaboration in forest protection and cross-boundary
crime control.
Analyse underlying causes of straying behaviour (repeat offend-ers).
Reduce human-tiger conflict.
Bangladesh Forest Department.
Forest Department, West Bengal/
NTCA, India.
WWF-India, IUCN Bangladesh
1.5 million /
4 years
Understanding the Hydrody-namic
and Geomorphological
Processes of the Sundarban
Geomorphology and hydrodynamics
Planning and design of embankments.
Impact assessment for any other infrastructure developmental
projects requiring waterfront.
Facilitate the understanding of inter-relationship between physi-cal
and biological processes.
Assessing the impact of climate change on the estuarine dynam-ics
.
Developing preventive and remedial measures to disasters
related to oil spillage and other pollutants.
Formulation of appropriate adaptation strategies.
CEGIS
IWM
IESWM
IIT, Kharagpur
IISWBM
10 million
USD /
5 years
2. Trans-boundary ProposAL Concepts
In this session, based on matrix generated, seven proposal concepts were presented and reviewed. It was
mutually agreed upon that those concluding session of the trans-boundary meeting all the proposals made in the
previous session were reviewed and it was agreed that only the proposals, transformative and trans-boundary in
nature, would be pursued by the Sundarban Stakeholder Network secretariat (as and when established). In all,
seven proposals were presented encompassing agriculture, fishery, health, tiger monitoring, geomorphology and
hydrodynamics, climate migration and communication. Out of the list, the proposals on agricultural and public
health sectors were requested to be refreshed in tune with the objective of the trans-boundary platform, while the
other five proposals were accepted in principal. Subsequently the proposal on public health and agriculture were
duly received and added underneath.
The summarized version of proposals are as follows:

34
Title Sector Applications Leading Institutions Cost /
3. Way Forward
It was agreed that Sundarban Stakeholder Network have a dedicated se 1. cretariat to start with.
2. Presently a six member Sundarban Stakeholder Network governing body, comprising of non-state actors, has
been formed to pursue the matter. Eventually the governing body is expected to be expanded with representation
from various stakeholders including the two national governments. The members are Ishtiaq Uddin Ahmad,
M. Mokhlesur Rahman, Dr. Maminul Haque Sarker and Prof. Dewan Ali Ahsan (from Bangladesh) and Dr. A.
Anurag Danda and Jayanta Basu (from India) with Dr. A. Anurag Danda acting as the convener.
3. The secretariat will have wings in both countries hosted by Environment Governed Integrated Organisation
(EnGIO), a nonprofit involved in the trans-boundary linkage process, and IUCN Bangladesh.
4. World Bank, in general, was supportive to the idea of a common Sundarban Stakeholders Network secretariat
and expressed willingness to financially support the exercise once the two national governments concur to such
an idea.
5. A detailed meeting report and a concept note for secretariat should be developed and forwarded using proper
channels to both the national governments as well as World Bank for further action.
Period
Strengthening sustainable and
transformatory health care
systems in trans-boundary
Sundarban
Public Health
Commissioning trans-boundary multi-speciality floating hospital
(in line with Orbis International’s Flying Eye Hospital)
Strengthening community based public health facilities both in
India and Bangladesh
Establishing referral network system and innovative use of
information and communication technology
Strengthening capacities of RMPs and Govt. Frontline Workers
(FLWs)
Improving nutritional status with focus on women and children
Southern Health Improvement
Society (SHIS)
Calcutta Medical College and
Hospital
All India Institute of Hygiene and
Public Health (AIIH&PH), Kolkata
Jawaharlal Nehru University, New
Delhi
One of the Private Specialist
Health care Institute
One of the local NGOs
4 million USD /
5 years
Developing trans-boundary
network of micro climate
information and promoting
non/off-farm livelihood options
for natural resource dependent
community of Sundarban
Agriculture and livelihood
Create cascading network of weather & climate information
especially for natural resource dependent community till village
level
Establishing multiple Agrometrological Field Units (AFU) in both
countries to monitor weather data
To provide assistance to livelihood services for natural resource
dependent community
AFUs will also to create models of alternatives economic enter-prises
based on energy solution like biogas/solar lantern making
as well as IT enabled services
Welthungerhilfe
Centre for Advanced Studies &
IUCN Bangladesh
WWF Sunderban Projects
Development Research Communi-cation
and Services Centre (DRCSC
) in Indian part of Sunderban
USD 1 million/
2 years

35
Annexure
A. Presenters’ Profile
B. Other Participants
C. Copy of Presentations
D. Bon beyond border

A. Presenters’ profile
36
Arijit Banerjee, IFS is Director of IESWM and Senior Environment Officer, Govt. of West
Bengal. He is responsible for overall implementation, monitoring and evaluation of ICZM
project in the state of West Bengal.
Tapas Pal is Sr. Environmental Specialist at World Bank, who has played pivotal role in
supporting a number of environment related projects in India including the Integrated
Coastal Zone Management project.
Herbert Acquay is Chief, South Asia at World Bank, Washington. Dr. Acquay received his
Masters in Natural Resources Policy at Cornell University where he also received his PhD in
Natural Resource Policy and Management in 1993.
Ishtiaq Uddin Ahmad is the former Chief Conservator of Forests, Bangladesh and presently
Country Representative of IUCN Bangladesh.
Dr. Sejal Worah is Programme Director at World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), India.
She has significantly contributed in conservation and development sector working on
management planning, capacity building, research and institutional development.
Jayanta Basu is an environment communication expert, a contributor in print and audio visual
media, attached to The Telegraph, Faculty of Calcutta University and Director, Environment
Governed Integrated Organisation (EnGIO).
Dr. Somnath Bhattacharyya is the additional director of ICZM project, West Bengal and
Senior Scientist of IESWM, Kolkata,
Dr. Maminul Haque Sarker is the Executive Director at the Center for Environmental and
Geographic Information Services, a graduate from University of Nottingham, UK.

Professor Kalyan Rudra is an eminent river expert, and environmental advisor of Govt of
West Bengal. Rudra is a former Professor of Geography and has authored many technical
articles in national and international journals.
Professor Pradip K. Sikdar, a hydro geologist with significant experience of working in
diverse hydro geological terrain, is attached to Department of Environment Management at
IISWBM, Kolkata.
Dr. ASM Shahidul Haque, Team Leader, CCDRER Project in BCAS, Bangladesh, an MBA
from University of Dhaka with significant experience in market development, value chain
development and enterprise development.
Anshuman Das has been working in agriculture sector. He is Regional Project Coordinator
of Integrated Farming at Welthungerhilfe with focus on improving quality and impact of
community based Natural Resource Management and Sustainable Development.
Prof. Dewan Ali Ahsan is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Fisheries, Dhaka
University and has been working on sustainable Hilsa fisheries management. Prof. Dewan
was a team member in the International Trans-boundary Policy prepared by IUCN.
Prof. Aniruddha Mukhopadhyay is Head, Institute of Environmental and Atmospheric
Science, Department of Environmental Science, University of Calcutta.
Dr. Soumitra Roy is a public health expert with WHO. He has wide experience in various
developing and under developed countries across the world.
Mr. M. Mokhlesur Rahman is Executive Director of the Centre for Natural Resources Studies
(CNRS) in Bangladesh. He has immense experience in ecological management through
community-based approaches.
Jude Henriques is a disaster management expert with CARITAS. He had led the social
mobilization and programme communication in Unicef.
37

38
Kakoli Sen Sarma is Project Manager, Senior Geologist and Remote Sensing Specialist in
Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Project under Department of Environment,
Government of West Bengal.
Md. Mozaharul Islam is Assistant Chief Conservator of Forests Heading Development
Planning Unit in Bangladesh Forest Department.
Md. Akbar Hossain is Conservator of Forests in Bangladesh Forest Department and has vast
experience in scientific conservation management and monitoring of wildlife.
Dr. Subrat Mukherjee IFS is Chief Conservator of Forest, with vast experience in forest
conservation. He is the Field Director, Sundarban Tiger Reserve.
M. Monwarul Islam is Deputy Director General (News and Programme) of Bangladesh TV
and has taken initiatives to promote environmental related programmes.
Abdul Maqueeb Majumdar is Director of Channel I – a private channel in Bangladesh. He is
the pioneer to broadcast first Bangladeshi TV series on ‘Biodiversity and Nature’.
Manas Ghosh is a correspondent with ATN Bangla channel in Bangladesh.
Dr. A. Anurag Danda is Head, Climate Change Adaptation and Sundarbans Landscape at
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), India. He has done PhD in Sustainable Development
from University of Twente.

B. Other Participants
Arup Barua is photo journalist and cameraperson a • t ATN Bangla Channel, Kolkata.
• Bappaditya Chatterjee is an environmental communication expert and associated with EnGIO.
• Bibhash Pal is Senior Producer in Doordarshan, Kolkata.
• Debashish Prusti, IAS is with Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
• Dilip K Ray, an engineer from IIT and poverty expert, formerly held key government positions, Advisor
• Dr. Rajarshi Chakraborty is Environment Officer in Government of West Bengal.
• Dr. Zakir Hussain, Special Advisor to Regional Director, IUCN Asia.
• P. Vyas, Director, Sundarban Biosphere Reserve, Government of West Bengal.
• Ratul Saha, Coordinator- Biodiversity Conservation at World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), India.
• S. B. Mondal, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Wildlife & Chief Wildlife Warden for West Bengal.
• Sanjay Gupta, Senior Communications Specialist, South Asia Water Initiative at the World Bank.
• Shakil Ahmed Ferdausi is Senior Environment Specialist at the World Bank and posted in Bangladesh.
• Vivek Wadekar, Director, Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India
39
EnGIO.

B. Copy of Presentations
40
24Ͳ12Ͳ2012
1
ComplementingGovernmentAction
TheRoleofWWFIndia
Sejal Worah
India:Atransformationaldecade?
• OftheG20countries,Indiatobeworsthitby
climatechange
• Indianeedstogrowbyatleast8Ͳ10%forthe
next2Ͳ3decadestoliftmillionsoutofpoverty
• ThedevelopmentimperativeisnotinquestionͲ
challengeistopromotegrowthwithoutincurring
massiveenvironmentaldebts
• Government,researchinstitutionsandNGOS
needtoworktogethertodevelopand
implementthesolutions
SpeciesConservation
IRV2020– 18rhinostranslocated fromKaziranga
Pobitora toManas…nowbreeding!
HighintensityofHumanͲTigerConflictinthelandscapes AlsoHumanͲͲElephantConflictinalmostalllandscapes

41
Institute of Environmental Studies Wetland Management, WWF-India EnGIO
24Ͳ12Ͳ2012
2
LocationofminingblocksalongtheSͲPcorridor
LeopardPresence
TigerPresence
JamaiRange
DamuaRange
Springsheds inSikkim
Phase2
LIVING GANGA PROGRAM
Phase1
Empoweringcommunitiesfor
conservationanddevelopment
throughlocalpartnershipsin
someoftheremotestpartsof
India

42
CurrentFutureBusinessengagement
24Ͳ12Ͳ2012
3
Optionsfor100%RenewableEnergyinMandla District
Assessmentofenergy
demandandrenewable
energy(RE)potentialand
draftingofaRoadmapfor
100%REsupplyinthe
district.
• Outcomes
– Currentelectricitydemand
is45Ͳ50MW
– 100MWREpotential
– 660Crore for100%RE
supplyby2020
– 60%reductionincarbon
emissionsfrompresent
levels
ClimateChange
CarbonDisclosure
Project
ClimateSolvers
Cotton
PilotFootprint
Mapping
Fisheries
BI
Market
Transformations
Agriculture
Forestry
Financesector
Sustainable
Finance
Lowcarbon
growth
Sugar
Rice
PalmOil
Timber
PulpandPaper
Water Aquaculture
Current
Future
SundarbansDeltaVision
foreffectiveconservationandmangroverestoration
ThankYou

43
24Ͳ12Ͳ2012
1
Geomorphology
Dr.Maminul Haque Sarker
msarker@cegisbad.com
October2012
Bangladesh
- the land
of rivers
The river systems
hhaavvee sshhaappeedd mmuucchh ooff
the history, economy,
literature and rich
culture of the people
Most of the ancient civilizations were
developed on the banks of rivers
Vulnerability due to
Natural Disasters
Rivers gives us
water for ..
Irrigation
Fisheries
Navigation
Industry
Megacountrieswithpopulation100Million
Thelandformedbytherivers
supportsthelifeandlivelihoodsof
thehundredmillionsofpeople
GeoͲmorphologicalsettingsofthe
riversinBangladesh

Rakas lake Manasarowar GeoͲmorphologicalsettings
44
Deltadevelopmentprocess
24Ͳ12Ͳ2012
2
China
Nepal Bhutan
Bangladesh
India
Everyyeartheseriverscarry:
Ͳonetrillionm3 ofwater
Ͳonebilliontonesofsediment
Moresedimentmakestheriversmoredynamic
Changesinsealeveloverthelast100thousandsyear
Deltaformationtriggeredthe
initiationofmoderncivilization
Fisk’smodel(1944)onresponsesoftheMississippiRiverto
thechangesinsealevel
TheGangesand
theJamuna
enteredthrough
threecorridors
BarindTract
1. RajmahalHillandBarind
Tract
2. BarindandMadhupur
Tracts
3. MadhupurandMaghalaya
Hills
Madhupur
Tract
Rajmahal
Hill
HistoricalDeltadevelopmentChangesinprocess
RiverCourses
Longtermshiftingoftherivercourses

45
24Ͳ12Ͳ2012
3
Shiftingoftherivercourses
duringlast250years
Shiftingoftherivercoursesinthelastcenturies
Source:EGIS(1997)
Deltaprogradation duringthelastdecades
DeltaBuildingand
rivershifting
DeltaBuildingand
rivershifting
DeltaBuildingand
rivershifting

46
DeltaBuildingandrivershifting
24Ͳ12Ͳ2012
4
Effectsofsealevelrise
Netaccretionwas
1700km2 during
thelast60years
Deltahas
prograded about
50kmtowardsthe
sea
VerylargesedimentinputgeneratedfromAssam1950
earthquake,therateofnetaccretioninthelastsixdecades
wasveryhigh
In the last two decades thenetaccretionintheMeghna
Estuaryareaisabout12km2/y
Riverresponseduetodeltaprogradation
i
dn
dn Sea Level
Sea
Deltabuildingprocessisbeingcontinuing
Riversarealsocontinuouslyadjustingwiththe
processofdeltabuilding
Riversarealsocontinuouslyadjustingwiththe
processofdeltabuilding
‰ Thedeltaisprograding
‰ Inthelastcenturies,coursesoftherivershifted
fromwesttoeast
‰ Coursesoftheriversarechanginginsouthwest
directionindicatingthewestwardshiftingofthe
activedelta

47
Humaninterventionsandtheirconsequences
‰ Drainageproblemin
theHariRiversystem
24Ͳ12Ͳ2012
5
Humaninterventionsandtheir
consequences
‰ Togrowmorefoodandimprovecommunications
Ͳ roads
Ͳ culverts
Ͳ bridges
Ͳ floodembankments
polders have been constructed since
Ͳ
1960
Ͳ flowandsalinityregimeoftheriver
systemhavebeenaltered
‰ Sometimescausedhugesufferingstoseveral
people
BWDB’sProjectsof
Bokor
Kadaria
Bangladesh Khuksia
Bhabadah
HariRiver
Bhaina
Madhugram
Dakatia
‰ Millionsofpeople
hadtosufferfrom
drainagecongestion
FewPhotographsofdrainagecongestion
Effectsofpoldering

48
Effectsofcoastalpoldersonrivers
Effectsofcoastalpoldersonrivers Effectsofcoastalpoldersonrivers
24Ͳ12Ͳ2012
6
Daudkhali bridgeatRampal inFebruary2011
Polderwas
constructedinthe
mid1990s
upstreamof
Daudkhali Riverat
Rampal,Bagerhat.
Sincethentheriver
hasbeenshrinking
veryrapidly
DaudkhaliRiveratRampal(neaptideinMay2010)
DaudkhaliRiveratRampal(neaptideinMay2010)
MonglaͲ GhasiakhaliNavigationRoute
DaudkhaliRiverinFebruary2011atlowtide
• Poldersinthesouthwest,reducethetidal
prism,whichsubsequentlyallowsthe
sedimentationintheriverbed.
• SoͲcalledtidalpumpingprocess,bringsthe
sedimenttothechannelstothedeposition
proneareas
• PoldersthuscauselargeͲscaledrainage
congestionsinthetidalplains,alongthe
northernperipheryoftheSunderbans
Reductionofsweetwaterinput

49
24Ͳ12Ͳ2012
7
ƒ Themainsourceofsweetwaterintothe
Sunderbans istheGorai
ƒ Duetoupstreamwithdrawalofwaterinthe
Ganges,theparentriveroftheGorai and
morphologicalprocessesattheoffͲtake,the
sweetwaterhasbeenreducedintothe
Sunderbans
ƒ Reductionofsweetwatercausedtheincrease
thesalinity
AnnualmaximumsalinityalongtheGoraiͲPussur systemhas
beenincreasedsignificantlyduringthelastfewdecades
Concludingremarks
•Wearesittingonaverydynamicnaturalphysicalsystem
•Extremenaturalevents,suchasearthquakeinfluence
systemsignificantly
••Humaninterventionsalterthesystemveryrapidly
•CanSunderbans beabletoadaptthosechangesinducedby
humaninterventionsinthesystem?

50
24-12-2012
1
Understanding the Fluvial Processes
Operating in the Ganga Delta
Kalyan Rudra.
The off-take
migration
The flood in the delta is a sediment dispersal
mechanism.

51
24-12-2012
2
Since early 19th century, the engineering intervention into
the fluvial regime of Bengal delta was started with the
construction of embankment to achieve a freedom from
flood.
‰It was the beginning of a new era to control the natural
hydrological system
‰The embankment ensured protection against low-intensity
flood but led to the decay of rivers.
‰Presently 10500km long embankment ensures
protection from low-intensity flood but impairs sediment
dispersal.
Since the roads and railways intercepted the drainage,
there was expansion of floodable area, outbreak of
malaria and declining food production.
SEDIMENT SUPPLY INTO THE DELTA
(June 2010- May 2011)
• By the Ganga: 389 million tonnes.
• By the Chotanagpur rivers: 5 million tonnes
• By tidal push back from the estuary: 26
million tonnes.
Distributaries of the Ganga

52
24-12-2012
3
Distributary Systems Tributary Systems
The Tidal limit
MIGRATING APEX OF THE DELTA
1991-2010

53
24-12-2012
4
ACTIVE DELTA: RECLAIMED AND NON-RECLAIMED PARTS

54
24-12-2012
5
The breach in embankment is a frequent event
1764 - 67 1936 2004
The possible explanations of coastal retrogradation:
1) Subsidence of the land due to autocompaction of the
sediment.
2) Silt-trapping by man made reservoirs and wetlands of the
delta.
3) Continuous flush of the sediments into the “Swatch of no
ground”- the submarine canyon of the Bay of Bengal.
4) Increasing storm surge and tidal invasion from the sea.
5) Global warming and thermal expansion of sea-water.

55
24-12-2012
1
Future Research
needs on
Sustainable
Groundwater
Management of
Sundarbans
P. K. Sikdar, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Environment Management
Indian Institute of Social Welfare Business
Management, Kolkata
• The Indian part of the Sundarban is bounded
between 21º32 22 º 40 N 8805 89 º 00 E
• Covers an area of 9629 sq km
3370 sq.km in South 24-Parganas district
1074.25 sq.km. in North 24-Parganas dst.
4444 sq.km is inhabited and the rest is
reserved forest .
• Sundarban area comprises 13 administrative
blocks
• Population of more than 4.5 million (2001)
• Has 54 islands of which Sagar island is well
famous for annual celebration of Ganga Sagar
Mela, lying at the southern most part of it is
Ashram of Rishi Kapil Deb.
GeologyofSundarbans
• The Sundarbans is located on the
lower deltaic plain of the on the
composite Ganga delta and is
covered by the Quaternary
sediments deposited by the Ganga
and its tributaries.
• The area is underlain by a thick
pile of unconsolidated sediments
of Quaternary and upper Tertiary
age.
Hydrogeology
• Groundwater occurs under confined condition in a
thick multi-aquifer system comprising sands of
varying thickness overlain by a thick blanket of clay
aquiclude.
• The piezometric surface of the deeper fresh water
aquifer generally lies between 2 m to 4.75 m below
ground level.
• The rise of the piezometric surface due to monsoonal
recharge varies between 0.16 m and 2.54 m.
Subsurface hydrogeological formations of Sundarbans

Proceedings of Trans-boundary Sundarban workshop (October 3 to 6, 2012)

Proceedings of Trans-boundary Sundarban workshop (October 3 to 6, 2012)

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Viewers also liked

Viewers also liked (20)

Similar to Proceedings of Trans-boundary Sundarban workshop (October 3 to 6, 2012)

Similar to Proceedings of Trans-boundary Sundarban workshop (October 3 to 6, 2012) (20)

More from WWF-India

More from WWF-India (7)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Proceedings of Trans-boundary Sundarban workshop (October 3 to 6, 2012)