Amphan-hit Sunderbans fears surge in migration

Kakdwip (WB), May 23: Pronab Biswas, a resident of Kakdwip in Sundarbans, was happy that his only son - a guest worker - had returned from Maharashtra last week and had planned to buy a dinghy to start a fishing business of his own. But the 50-year-old’s plans were blown away on Wednesday by Cyclone Amphan as their home and cattle got swept away and they lost all their lifelong savings.

Biswas, who has a family of six to feed, now plans to accompany his son back to Maharashtra in search of livelihood. “After (cyclone) Aila in 2009, I had moved to Nashik to work as a mason there,” he said.

“But as I was getting old, my son replaced me and started working there for the last four years.”

“I had saved `10,000 and had planned to start the fishing business of my own with my son once he returns,” Biswas said. “But now everything is gone, my home, my savings, my cattle.” Biswas is in touch with the labour supply agency his son used to work for and has requested them to ensure jobs for both of them once the lockdown ends.

With livelihood lost and homes washed away, observers of the Sundarbans feel the ecologically-fragile region, which has been under stress due to rising sea levels, would witness a migration surge.

West Bengal Sundarbans affairs minister Manturam Pakhira said the region had suffered losses worth thousands of crores and everything had to be rebuilt from scratch.

“With the infrastructure badly hit, it will take a heavy toll on the livelihood of the people there,” said Sugata Hazra, director of school of oceanographic sciences at Jadavpur University.

“In months to come, all of us will witness huge migration from the Sundarbans. Whatever was rebuilt after Cyclone Aila, everything has been lost due to Cyclone Amphan,” he said. - PTI