Sunderbans left unfit for farming

nSUNDERBANS: A major humanitarian crisis threatens the Sunderbans region, as Cyclone Amphan has left thousands of acres of land inundated with saline water, rendering the land unfit for agriculture for several years to come, local people, public representatives and experts fear.

Cyclone Aila of 2009 had had a similar effect. As the land turned infertile for four to five years, a section of the local farm-dependent population came to rely on forest produces, effectively increasing stress on the eco-sensitive zone of the world’s largest mangrove forest. Another section migrated to other states to work as labourers.

“I have started looking for agriculture experts who could suggest ways to reduce salinity from the farmland as early as possible,” said Pratima Mandal, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP from Jaynagar in South 24-Parganas.of the 102 islands in the Sunderbans, 52 are inhabited by 4.5 million people and the rest are tiger territories. Another 2 million living around the islands have been hit by saline water through the rivers of Matla, Raymangal, Bidyadhari and Muri Ganga. “Through the breached embankments, saline water will keep entering with every high tide. These lands will remain infertile for the next three-four years,” said Manas Mahato, pradhan of Atpukur gram panchayat in Basirhat sub-division of North 24-Parganas.

Subhas Acharya, a former joint director of Sunderbans Development Board, agreed. “Aila had crippled life in the delta. I apprehend a similar situation this time again,” he said.