Sagar Island has turned to a land of sorrow after the unexpected flood occurred on 14th July 2014

1. SAGAR ISLAND – TURNED TO A LAND OF SORROW.
Sunita Das
agar Island, famous for its natural beauty with
acres of silver sand, clear blue sky and the calm
sea ,situated at the estuary of the river
Hoogly .Behind the panoramic view of the
spectacular beach, enjoyable enthralling dawn and
dusk there lies stories of several environmental
threats which are not apparently seen . Erosion,
Cyclones, Tidal Surges and Flood are four major
environmental hazards occurring continuously in this
land area. The threats are very common to local
people. But on July 14th
an unexpected high tide has
left a major portion of Sagar Island flooded, causing extensive damage to crops and destroying
homes. Sudden inundation of sea water damaged thousands of houses, vast spread of agricultural
field, destroyed wide range of Betel plantations. Thousands of livelihoods were killed instantly.
S
Paribesh Unnayan Parishad (PUPA), an NGO, working in Sagar Island for last fifteen years and
providing continuous support to the flood victims through the following action plans:
1. Distribution of salt tolerant paddy seeds.
2. Distribution of livestock.
3. Organized training programmes for farmers on “Organic Fertilizer”, “Efficient Farm
Management Techniques”, “Sustainable Farming Practice”, “Mixed Cropping System”.
4. Short term skill development training programme on “Tailoring”, “Computer”, “Fruit &
vegetable processing”, Electrical maintenance.
PUPA is trying to find out the long term solutions for a comparatively better future for inhabitants of
sagar island.
Sk Rabiul Haque , founder of “Horti -Herbal Spices Farm”, doing continuous experiment to invent
new techniques for efficient farm management, shouldered the
responsibilities to impart training to the farmers. One of the
experienced farmer from Rakkhas khali block ,Sri Ahoke Mohanti
shared his experienced with the farmers. Emphasis was given on :
1. Choosing of seeds of food crops that are salt tolerant .
2. Planning for year round production.
3. Maintenance of seed inventory
4. Proper record keeping.
5. Use of vermin compost to get a better yield. In a Farmer’s Training Programme: Sk
Rabiul Haque & the president of PUPA,
Dr. Santanu Mitra

2. 6. Waste management: “waste” of daily use(peals of
vegetables, egg shells, cow dung , fish bones, meat
bones....)can be used in vermin compost or for
the preparation of organic manure for a better
result.
7. Cultivation of multiple crop in a same land
provides more returns and also beneficial for
ecological balance.
8. Cost-benefit analysis (calculation of total
production cost including land and labour cost and
how much return is there .)
From a recent visit at Shilpara & HendalKetki villages of Sagar Island we came to know that how
poorest of the poor people struggling every day for bread. Most of the inhabitants of this community
have lost their land. Many family migrated to other areas leaving their land barren. Almost 300
young male members left the villages for earning. There is one village in the island where no young
male members were found. All were migrated to Kerala or Gujrat in search of job. Only female ,
child and old members of the family are staying in the barren village. All the harvested stalks were
washed away in the flood water.
They have no proper food to eat, not even sufficient clothes to protect themselves from the bite of
winter. There is no paddy to store not even any Betel to sell. They have planted eucalyptus trees on
the embankment but the entire forest have taken away by the river.
Female Self Help Groups in Shilpara and Hental Ketki villages have become defunct. Groups are not
organized as well. The reasons relating to group dynamics may be (a) internal conflict and rivalry
among the group members; (b) leadership issues within the group; (c) inability to conform to group
discipline. It’s true, as long as the disadvantaged suffer from economic deprivation and livelihood
insecurity, one cannot dream of achieving a prosperous and vibrant society. Monitoring and
controlling of groups are required. Skill development training will help for capacity building.
Revitalization of group activities will leads to economic uplift of women as well as of local
community.
Dr.Amalesh Mishra (Secretary, PUPA) said that with long term plans we are to plan short term
measures to cope up with the situation.
Immediate measures to safeguard the livelihood of sagar island:
Job for food: Creation of employment opportunity is immediate requirement. All the flood victims
are to be engaged in infrastructure development work offered by the local Govt. Rational
distribution of jobs among community people must be ensured.
Credit inflow: There is a poor flow of credit in sagar island. Financial institutions may take initiative
to provide loans to the farmers and SHG’s.
Interest free disaster recovery loan: Local Govt needs to take initiative to provide interest free
disaster recovery loan to the flood victims so that they can repair or reconstruct the affected houses
and sanitary system .
In a Farmer’s Training Programme:From right
side Dr.Amalesh Mishra, Secretary of PUPA, Sri
Ashok Mohanti & the president of PUPA, Dr.
Santanu Mitra

3. Long term measures to safeguard the livelihood of sagar island:
Construction of Seawall : A seawall (or sea wall) is a form of coastal defence constructed where the
sea, and associated coastal processes, impact directly upon the landforms of the coast. The purpose
of a seawall is to protect areas of human habitation, conservation and leisure activities from the
action of tides and waves
Construction of Groyne : A groyne is a rigid hydraulic structure built from an ocean shore (in coastal
engineering) or from a bank (in rivers) that interrupts water flow and limits the movement of
sediment. In the ocean, groynes create beaches, or prevent them being washed away by longshore
drift. In a river, groynes prevent erosion and ice-jamming, which in turn aids navigation. Ocean
groynes run generally perpendicular to the shore, extending from the upper foreshore or beach into
the water. All of a groyne may be under water, in which case it is a submerged groyne. The areas
between groups of groynes are groyne fields. Groynes are generally made of wood, concrete, or rock
piles, and placed in groups. They are often used in tandem with seawalls. Groynes, however, may
cause a shoreline to be perceived as unnatural.
Development of infrastructural facilities: Road, Electricity, Water treatment Plant, health
centre , Irrigation system.
Mangrove planting and vegetative covers along coastal zones.
Tourism management: Tourism can be a major
source of income for the local people of sagar
island.. The island considered as a sacred spot by
Hindus. They revered Ganga Sagar as the final point
of departure for their holy river, Mother Ganga . It is
the place where Mother Ganga merges with the Bay
of Bengal after travelling down from the Himalayas
and across the plains of north India. It can grow into
a viable coastal tourist attraction if the problems of
communication involving crossing of river by ferry
and lack of grid electricity are solved. The state Govt
has introduced helicopter services to sagar island.
Fare per person is Rs 1500and takes 45 minutes to
reach sagar island from Behala Flying Club, Kolkata.
To attract more tourist number of trip per day needs to be increased with a discounted fare.
Communication chains are to be built up between Local Communities, NGO’s and Local
Government. Tripartite meetings may help solve the problems of natural hazards.
Scientists are trying to find out the reasons behind the mystery flood. Word wide continuous
research work is going on to see whether there is any relation between environmental change and
the unexpected flood .But the conditions of flood victims deteriorating day by day. After effect of
flood on the livelihood of local inhabitants is much severe. It is high time to pay attention for
alleviating the environmental and livelihood threats of this fragile island in the Bay of Bengal from
extreme hazards.