Rising sea, shrinking sands erode vibrancy of Ganga Sagar Mela
- The Ganga Sagar Mela in Sagar Island, West Bengal, is facing challenges from rising sea levels and beach erosion
- It prompted the state government to seek "national fair" status for the religious congregation.
Key Highlights
Impact on Pilgrimage
- Warning signs have been erected, and pilgrims are redirected to alternative beaches for the holy dip.
Government's Response
- West Bengal government ministers express helplessness in combating nature.
- Tetrapods, concrete wave-dissipating blocks, have been installed along the Ganga Sagar beach to mitigate erosion, with their effectiveness to be assessed after the monsoon.
Financial Investment:
- The government has spent ₹25 crore on dredging the island, constituting 10% of the estimated ₹250 crore budget for the Ganga Sagar Mela.
Political Embarrassment:
- Erosion becomes a source of embarrassment as the state government aims for national fair status.
Environmental and Human Factors
- Sea level rise threatens the Kapil Muni temple, with experts noting that earlier temples had already submerged.
- Human interventions, such as clearing sand dunes for Mela ground extension, contribute to increased wave attacks.
- Violations of Coastal Regulation Zone in Sagar Island construction exacerbate the issue.
Concerns Raised by Experts
- The lack of sediment influx from the Ganga-Meghna-Brahmaputra river system, leading to land accretion towards the Meghna delta and land loss in the Sundarbans.
Prelims takeaway
- Ganga-Meghna-Brahmaputra river system
- Meghna delta