Sundarban Delta Research Articles

Unveiling the counternarratives of Ganga: Ganga as goddess in the Sundarbans

ABSTRACT The upper-caste Hindu communities in India portray the river Ganga as a deity associated with death and salvation. These mythical narratives overshadow the less imaginative, more experiential, and ambivalent emotions upheld by the riverine communities living around the Ganga. To understand the interplay between the contextual realities of these communities and the conceptualisation of Ganga, the article analyses select oral narratives of the riverine communities of the Sundarban Delta in West Bengal. It focuses on how the belief of Ganga as a goddess is materialised through ‘memorates’ within the vulnerable riverine ecology of the Sundarbans. The article highlights the intersections between the symbolic and material aspects of the river interacting with the economic and social realities of people thereby creating a counternarrative to the representation of the river in the Vedas and the Puranas.

Decadal Changes (1980–2021) of Shoreline and Mangrove Cover in Sundarban Delta, India, Using Remote Sensing and GIS

Abstract Being situated in the estuary of the flood-dominated Hooghly River system, the macrotidal Indian Sundarban Delta (ISD) has become one of the most complex, dynamic, and rapidly changing landforms on Earth’s surface. To study the horizontal areal shifting of shoreline and its impact on mangrove cover in the region, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) satellite data of 1980, 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2021 were used. Remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) techniques were employed in the investigation. Simultaneous prograding and retrograding shoreline shifting was distinguished almost in all the parts, although sediment-starved eastern and macrotidally more active southern lobes experienced dominantly retreating shift, and the sediment-engorged western lobe was demonstrated to be more dynamic. Net areal change over north–south tracks followed the trend of decreasing accretion to increasing erosion while going from west to east, whereas that over west–east tracks followed the trend of exponentially increasing erosion while going from north to south. Overall accretion of ∼91 km2 in the ISD accounted for the augmentation of sparse vegetation of ∼13 km2, whereas ∼243 km2 erosion called for the depletion of sparse and moderate vegetation of ∼18 and ∼174 km2, respectively, over the 41-yr period. Various oceanographic and riparian forces and actions, episodic natural events, etc., vis-a-vis several anthropogenic interventions—all together contributed to such changes. The findings may help the coastal environmentalists, professionals, planners, decision-makers, and implementers in formulating and taking up of suitable strategic measures for integrated and effective coastal zone management in this estuarine wetland forest.

Transformation of coastal wetlands in the Sundarban Delta (1999–2020)

Spanning across Bangladesh and India, the Sundarban Delta consists of over a thousand islands, the majority of which are protected. These islands are important for the rich biodiversity and unique species found here. However, these islands are also at the forefront of climate change due to the impact of rising sea levels and extreme weather events. Therefore, we analyzed the long-term transformations in the land use land cover (LULC) between 1999 and 2020. We used a variety of geostatistical methods, including optimized hot spots cold spots and join count statistics, to examine the spatial patterns of changes in LULC across the study area. The results of our analysis revealed substantial changes in the spatial patterns of mangroves and pond aquaculture. The changes revealed a distinct north–south demarcation in spatial patterns, in the form of clustering of mangroves in the uninhabited islands located in the south and pond aquaculture clustered in the northern inhabited islands. The loss of area under mangroves was concentrated in the southern edges of the islands, which were most exposed to erosion in the open ocean. Nevertheless, we observed an increase in the area under mangroves in some of the northern riverine islands (17 km2). In the case of pond aquaculture, it was mostly concentrated in inhabited islands in the north. Most of the expansions were concentrated in the Indian part of the delta (631 km2). It is noteworthy that because of effective conservation measures, there was very limited overlap between mangroves and pond aquaculture, denoting the conversion of agricultural land to pond aquaculture instead of mangroves. Thus, the results of our study revealed the importance of local level conservation policies and anthropogenic activities, such as deforestation and local level disturbance like over-extraction of water and pollution, on the changing patterns of LULC across this unique, fragile ecosystem. Future studies may incorporate a finer resolution time series of LULC changes over time and space to enable more detailed analysis.

Exploring the Rich Diverse: Freshwater Fish Diversity and Bionomics in the Sundarbans, India

The Sundarban is a mangrove area in the deltaformed by the confluence of the gangas brahmaputra and meghna river in the Bay of Bengal. The hooghly river in india state of West Bengal to the baleswar river in bangladesh. It comprises closed and open mangrove forests agriculturally used land, mudflats and barren lands. It is intersected by multiple tidal streams and channels. Four protected area in the Sundarbans are enlisted as UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES, Sundarbans national park,Sundarban west, east and south wildlife santuaries. The bengali name Sundarban is beautiful forest. It may have benn derived from the word sundari, the local name of the mangrove sp Heritiera fomes. There many biodiversity like 453 faunal wildlife, including 290 birds,120 fish, 42 mammal, 35 reptiles and 8 amphibians. The goal of this review paper is discussing about freshwater fish diversity and its bionomics in Sundarban delta. Also about the a brief description of study area (Sundarban) encompassing definition of a mangrove ecosystem, importance of mangrove ecosystem, area and distribution of Sundarban; Indian Sundarban – area, location, fisheries related activities; importance of studying fish diversity. And try to generate a data base on some of the life history parameters and their conservation status and atlast study threats associated with fish diversity measures for sustainable fishery.

The Pros and Cons of Co-Management: A Case Study From the Sundarbans Delta

The Pros and Cons of Co-Management: A Case Study From the Sundarbans Delta

Mapping, Dynamics, and Future Change Analysis of Sundarbans Delta Using Cellular Automata and Artificial Neural Network Modeling

Mapping, Dynamics, and Future Change Analysis of Sundarbans Delta Using Cellular Automata and Artificial Neural Network Modeling

Sustainable Management of Aquaculture and Water Footprint Analysis in Sunderban

India is the world’s second-largest producer of fish, where the state of West Bengal is leading in fish production. The Sundarbans, located in the southern part of India’s West Bengal state, is a UNESCO-designated world heritage site. The Indian Sundarbans is a tide-dominated region in the southern part of deltaic West Bengal, and is home to 4.43 million people. Even though it is traversed by numerous creeks and rivulets and receives a significant amount of precipitation during the monsoon season, freshwater is a scarce resource in the Sundarbans. During the dry season, there is a lack of fresh water above and below the ground, increasing siltation results in shallower channels, high salinity of the water and soil, and congestion in drainage making it difficult for people to make a living. During the dry season, most blocks experience water scarcity as a result of the ever-increasing population’s demand for water. According to this study, Sundarbans’ current annual domestic and drinking water demands are 105.1 mcm and 8.08 mcm, respectively. By combining the area under various crops and their lifecycle water requirements, the water demand for agriculture has been calculated to be 2782.83 mcm. The rainfall-runoff modelling aims to get a general idea of how much fresh water is available each year through surface runoff. It has also been estimated how much water is available from different sources in each block. It is estimated that deep and shallow bore wells contribute approximately 400 mcm, whereas surface water sources like tanks and canals contribute approximately 50 mcm. The communities that live in the Sundarbans eco-region benefit greatly from aquaculture’s contribution to their socio-economic development. For the sustainable development of aquaculture in the Sundarbans Delta, strong technical, financial and extension services from government organisations and research institutions are urgently required to meet these obstacles. Additionally, this study emphasises that roof-top rainwater harvesting in this region has the potential to supply 45 mcm more water, which could be used to partially satisfy the region’s domestic water demand. Future major policy options for meeting the Sundarbans ecoregion’s water demand include large-scale rainwater harvesting, rejuvenation and reconnection of disconnected river channels, artificial recharge of shallow aquifers to lower their salinity, and de-salination of shallow groundwater.

Local-level impacts of Cyclone Yaas on the Islands of the Indian Sundarbans Delta

Local-level impacts of Cyclone Yaas on the Islands of the Indian Sundarbans Delta

Mental health and socio-psychological manifestations of cyclone-induced water insecurity in the Indian Sundarban delta

Advancements in early warning, efficient evacuation, and previous experience with cyclones have largely restricted disaster casualties in the Sundarban delta in India and Bangladesh. Despite the limited loss of life, post-cyclone soil, inland water salinity, and loss of agriculture productivity remain among the impeding factors affecting people's lives. Two severe cyclones, cyclone Amphan, which hit on May 20, 2020, and cyclone Yaas, which hit the delta on May 28, 2021, caused significant damage to the life and livelihood of the local people. In this paper, we inquired into the mental health and socio-psychological aspects of cyclone Amphan and Yaas-induced water insecurity in the Indian Sundarban delta using both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The empirically derived data from Focus Group Discussions (N = 17; Number of participants = 157) and household surveys (N = 121) were subjected to various qualitative and quantitative analyses to understand the key determinants of post-cyclone water-induced mental health and well-being. Results suggest varying levels of stress and anxiety among the respondents, which include indecisiveness, general anxiety, fear of waterlessness, irritation, loss of self-esteem, and multiple other mental health issues. The FGD participants pointed out the severe impacts of the cyclones including increased seawater inundation, salinization of agricultural lands, flooding of the freshwater sources and increased water prices. Among all these impacts, seawater inundation and salinization of water and soil have the most long-lasting impact on the life and livelihood of local people. In the quantitative analysis, we observed that the perceived lack of fresh water, including both quality and quantity, alongside, the experience of water-borne diseases, loss of social relations, and loss of livelihood are the key determinants of the self-reported emotional stress of the respondents. In the lieu of existing knowledge gap on disaster-induced water insecurity and its impact on the mental health of affected people, the present research findings emphasize the need for resilient water structures on one side and socio-psychological counselling at the community level on the other side to ensure a sound recovery of the damaged resources as well as make the community a part of the recovery process that can improve their mental health.

Quantifying shoreline dynamics in the Indian Sundarban delta with Google Earth Engine (GEE)-based automatic extraction approach

Quantifying shoreline dynamics in the Indian Sundarban delta with Google Earth Engine (GEE)-based automatic extraction approach

OSCILLATION OF HYDROLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN SHRIMP PONDS WITHIN MANGROVE-DOMINATED INDIAN SUNDARBANS

The survival rate of Penaeus monodon was monitored for a decade (2010-2019) in two shrimp culture ponds at Chemaguri located at Sagar Island in the Indian Sundarbans delta complex. The two ponds exhibited significant variations in terms of the survival rate of the cultured species, which is attributed to variations in nitrate, phosphate, and dissolved oxygen. The root cause of such difference is related to variation in stocking density of the cultured species (10 PL20/m2 in pond 1 and 25 PL20/m2 in pond 2) which resulted in the generation of nutrients (except silicate) and alteration of Dissolved Oxygen (DO). Optimization of stocking density and introduction of a biotreatment pond may restore and ecologically balance the situation in the shrimp culture sector of the Sundarban region.

From the Sundarban delta to Deccan ‘Aurangabad’: climatic refugees’ resilience for livelihood

ABSTRACT Climatic disasters and ecological threats lead to migrations of people with transitions in livelihood as displaced communities. Climatic changes and demographic pressures are harshly hampering the ecological balance of the Sundarbans delta region. Western Indian Ocean region's industrial spaces and town economies are alternatives of livelihood for migrants from Sundarbans delta. Historically, the two littorals and hinterland of Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal of the Indian Ocean remain connected through trade networks. The Colonial State connected these two hinterlands of South Asia through railway networks. Since the late nineteenth century migrations within the regions for livelihood increased. With the twenty-first century the severity of the migration increased because of climatic change. In this research, I investigated the patterns of migration from the Sundarbans delta to the Western Indian Ocean region hinterland city of `Aurangabad.' This empirical study situates the transitions and impacts on livelihood fragility of the communities displaced.

Sustainability assessment of Indian Sundarban delta islands using DPSIR framework in the context of natural hazards

Since the inception of the concept, sustainability has been interpreted as encompassing social, economic, and environmental dimensions of it. It is now rapidly shifting from a concept to a measurable state of the human-ecological dynamic system. Recent research is focusing on an integrated approach, due to the absence of a perfectly defined sustainable condition with the presence of some driving forces in the environmental system as a reference. In the recent world, severe natural hazards are increasingly having a fatal impact on societal and economic strata. The islands of Indian Sundarban Delta are the focus of this study as their sustenance is highly at stake due to climate change induced sea level rise, cyclone, tidal surge, and severe land erosion. The main objective of this study is to design a model for obtaining a composite sustainability index of three adjacent islands of western part of Indian Sundarban Delta (ISD) Sagar, Mousani and Ghoramara which are facing severe hazard impact based on the ‘Driving Force-Pressure-State-Impact-Response’ (DPSIR) framework integrating all three dimensions. Indicators have been categorised into state indicators and driving forces under ten profiles chosen from three dimensions of sustainability. The impact score of driving forces over any profile has been considered as a product of values of drivers and states from that profile. The total sustainability score was attained by summarizing the impact scores assigning the same weights and different weights respectively, to the sustainability indicators. The sustainability score shows that Sagar is in a better position than the other two islands.

Indigenous knowledge of the ‘Bawalis’ residing in the Sundarbans Delta: Survival strategy, resilience and adaptation to climate change driven from Antarctica

Indigenous knowledge of the ‘Bawalis’ residing in the Sundarbans Delta: Survival strategy, resilience and adaptation to climate change driven from Antarctica

Isolation and Characterization of Beneficial Bacterium from the Rhizosphere of Suaeda nudiflora in Sundarbans, India

A study was carried out to isolate and characterize salt-tolerant beneficial bacteria from the soil collected from the rhizosphere of a halophytic plant (Suaeda nudiflora) from Gosaba, 24 Parganas (South), West Bengal, India located in the Sundarbans delta during January 2018. The physicochemical analysis of the soil showed that the soil was alkaline in nature with high salinity. The organic carbon, total nitrogen and available phosphorus status of the soil were low while the available potassium content was high. Bacterium N8 isolated from the rhizospheric soil possessed multiple growth-promoting activities i.e., the highest phosphate solubilizing efficiency (8.52 mg P g-1 of sugar), nitrogen-fixing capacity (0.7 mg of N g-1 of sugar), phosphatase enzyme activity and tolerance to salinity at 6% NaCl. A morphological study of this bacterium indicated that it was gram-positive, rod-shaped and was present in both single and chain form. The PCR amplification of genomic DNA (using 16S rDNA specific primers) showed a clear visible band at 1.5Kb. Sequencing of the amplicon followed by BLAST analysis depicted that the bacterium N8 exhibited the highest similarity (99%) with the genus Bacillus. The NCBI-Gen Bank accession number of the bacterium was SUB416213 N8 MH489431. The presence of members of the genus Bacillus in the rhizosphere soil of Suaeda nudiflora from Sundarbans is being reported for the first time. This study has led to a significant avenue for the use of the N8 bacterium as a potential salt-tolerant phosphate solubilizing bio-inoculum for improving nutrient availability in the coastal region.

Impact of changing environmental scenario on biodiversity of mangrove forest of Sundarbans Delta Region, India

Sundarbans is the world’s largest contiguous mangrove forest and is a designated world heritage site, shared by India and Bangladesh, it is home to several species including tigers. The habitat supports approximately 4.37 million people. Mangrove ecosystem is a unique, fragile, highly productive ecosystem in the sea-land interphase, is the conglomerations of plants, animals and microorganisms acclimatized in the fluctuating environment of tropical intertidal zone. This ecosystem is a highly valued ecosystem in terms of economy, environment and ecology. This mangrove ecosystem of Indian subcontinent is well known not only for the aerial extent, but also for the species diversity. The biodiversity of Sundarbans includes numerous species of phytoplankton, zooplankton, microorganisms, benthic invertebrates, molluscs, amphibians and mammals. As per the research conducted it is believed that the Sundarbans have soaked in 4.15 crore tonnes of carbon dioxide. But the scenario has been changed during past few decades. Due to climate change the Sundarbans faces several challenges. Recorded data shows that a huge number of flora and fauna were compelled to be eliminated due to the consequences of climate change during the last century. Climate change components that affect mangroves and its inhabitants include changes in sea-level, high-water events, storminess, precipitation, temperature, atmospheric CO2 concentration and ocean circulation patterns. The study was conducted to identify the threats on the diversity and its effect on the socio-economic condition of the local community. With risk of the Sundarbans submerging, there is an urgent need for global reduction of emissions and replacement of fossil fuels with renewable energy.

Analyzing the multi-hazard coastal vulnerability of Matla–Bidya inter-estuarine area of Indian Sundarbans using analytical hierarchy process and geospatial techniques

In the current global climate change era, the Indian Sundarbans Delta (ISD) is severely exposed to multiple environmental disasters especially high-intensity tropical cyclones, storm surges and flood inundation. These disasters threaten the lives and livelihoods of coastal communities. To formulate a disaster risk reduction strategy, it is necessary to identify priority areas based on their level of vulnerability. Therefore, this research aims to assess the multi-hazard coastal vulnerability of the Matla–Bidya Inter-estuarine (MBI) area of ISD considering exposure, sensitivity, and adaptability. The coastal vulnerability was derived in this study based on a total of 26 indicators using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) in combination with remote sensing data and geospatial techniques. To better understand the impacts of recent natural disasters, a field survey was conducted in each village from 2020 to 2021 to collect information directly from households regarding the effects of recent disasters on the different aspects of livelihoods. The present study found that the coastal villages in the Basanti and Gosaba Blocks located within the southern MBI are the most vulnerable due to coastal proximity, tropical cyclones, storm surges and flooding incidents. The high exposure and sensitivity cause potential effects on coastal environments and a lack of resistance to environmental disasters, leading to a considerable increase in coastal vulnerability. Local people's livelihoods are at risk in almost 33% of MBI villages. In contrast, villages in the northern MBI, in the Canning II Block are less susceptible to the effects of extreme events due to better resilience. This village-level multi-hazard vulnerability study helps to identify priority areas considering the vulnerability level of each village and accordingly proposed effective strategic planning for environmental and socio-economic resilience.

Livelihood, conflict and tourism: An assessment of livelihood impact in Sundarbans, West Bengal

Sundarbans delta is renowned as the largest mangrove forest reserve in the world with distinct species of wild flora and fauna. It acts as a source of livelihood for several communities residing in the vicinity. The indigenous plants, extraction of honey and catching fish from rivers, lakes and rivulets have good economic value in surroundings markets. The local community were highly attached to their land, air, water, animals and plants of the area which have simultaneously became part of their culture and tradition over the years. The aim of the study is to identify and analyse the community's perception about Sundarbans and impacts on their livelihood along with the threat faced by Sundarbans. The study is based on primary survey following secondary data for data collection while descriptive and ethnographic methods were used to get the desired outcome. Post discussion, it was concluded that apart from human and animal conflict, the community is also facing livelihood conflict as the shift has registered over the years. The water level has continued to rise and submerge much of the areas of Sundarbans. Tourism is highly appreciated, but unregulated and irresponsible tourists are the major concern for wild floral and faunal species in Sundarbans ecosystem. The people living there don't have capacity to do other work except cultivation and fishing. The area specific approach and regional plan for the region is the need of hour as the region is suffering from multiple problems threat to tiger conservation, increased salinity of the water and erosion of embankment.

First record of Acromitus flagellatus (Maas, 1903) (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa) swarm from the world’s largest deltaic ecosystem, the Sundarbans, India

The present study describes the first record of Acromitus flagellatus (Maas, 1903) swarm from the east coast of India, Bay of Bengal. Specimens of A. flagellatus were collected from the estuarine waters of Saptamukhi river channel, of the Sundarbans deltaic region during February 2021. The exumbrella was 160 ± 40 mm in diameter, with oral arms measuring 115 ± 45 mm and possessing a single long flagellum at the distal end of each oral arm. A. flagellatus swarm had an abundance of 5200 ± 440 ind. m−3. Sea surface temperature and salinity in the study area were 25.3 ±0.7°C and 24.5 ± 0.5 ‰ respectively. Common phytoplankton species encountered were Biddulphia sinensis, Planktoniella blanda and P. sol; while microzooplankton comprised mostly of larval forms of invertebrate metazoans. Mesozooplankton species during A. flagellatus swarm were dominated by Centropages orsinii, Bestiolina similis, Subeucalanus subcrassus, Clytia simplex, Pleurobrachia globosa, Zonosagitta pulchra and Hyperia macrocephala. Our study points to the non-specific, opportunistic feeding pattern of A. flagellatus across different trophic levels, from phytoplankton to fish and will extend the distribution of A. flagellatus up to the Sundarbans delta of the Bay of Bengal.

Planetary Los Angeles: Climate Realism and Transnational Narrative in Amitav Ghosh’s Gun Island (2019)

ABSTRACT This essay argues that the fire-plagued Los Angeles of Amitav Ghosh’s 2019 novel Gun Island functions as a device to illuminate the planetary processes and continuities of climate change and the Anthropocene. I demonstrate the ways in which Ghosh makes metaphorical connections between the disparate settings of his novel – particularly L.A and the Sundarbans delta in the Bay of Bengal – to portray the Earth as a single living organism defined by environmental, ecological and social flux. As a consequence of this transnational narrative, Los Angeles becomes a symptom of planetary malaise rather than a distinct, bounded space. Analysing Gun Island primarily through the framework of Lynn Badia, Marija Cetinic and Jeff Diamanti’s conception of ‘climate realism’ – with reference also to Amy Elias and Christian Moraru’s ‘planetarity’ and Ursula Heise’s ‘sense of planet’ – I explain how the novel exhibits a contemporary realist form that rejects provincial thinking and advocates a planetary consciousness. Moreover, I contend that Gun Island departs from the long lineage of Los Angeles disaster literature, suggesting that Ghosh’s L.A does not expose national anxieties – as has often been the case in such fiction – but rather a planetary condition.