Impact of Super Cyclone Amphan: A Case Analysis of the Sundarbans

Source: (Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP via Getty Images)

Nature and human beings are engaged in a strange game in Sundarbans. If nature moves one step forward, people step back, and if people step one further, nature destroys the very existence mercilessly. On May 20, 2020, super cyclone Amphan made landfall along the coast of West Bengal and Odisha with unimaginable monstrosity. This is the worst cyclone seen in the Bay of Bengal in 283 years. Amphan caused humongous harm and destruction along with the waterfront districts, explicitly Sundarbans, the world’s largest contiguous mangrove forest and is a designated world heritage site. As a result of Cyclone Amphan’s very high winds, stormwater surges, tidal invasions, and saline water invasion, irreversible damage was caused to the fragile landscape and people who depend on the landscape for livelihoods. 

In this analysis, I will examine the before and after Amphan situation in Sundarbans, the environmental, socio-economic impact of the super cyclone, and the role of different stakeholders on the change of the Sundarbans’ ecosystem, briefly touching upon the way forward.

 

Sundarbans and the Cyclones 

In the Indian subcontinent, the Sundarban ecosystem is one of the most biodiverse and taxonomically diverse ecosystems. The entire area is a medley of river channels, creeks, and islands, totaling about 102 in number. Of these, 54 islands are inhabited, while the rest are forested. Sundarban is a dynamic ecosystem that changes both naturally and because of human interventions. The population of Sundarbans has increased dramatically over the years, from 1.1 million in 1951 to 4.37 million in the 2011 census (Ghosh, 2012). Nevertheless, this growing population with an increased need for agricultural productivity impacted the self-sustaining ecosystem and destroyed the mangroves on the coastal lines. Mangroves are the first line of defense against high tides and cyclones, which not only reduce wind speed but break the waves during a storm surge caused by a cyclone. In the Sundarbans, the terms’ kotal’ (tides) and ‘jhar’ (storms) define the history of human settlement. Though the Sundarban is prone to cyclones and severe storms, for the last few years, the incidence and intensity of cyclones have gone up. The 2009 cyclone named ‘Aila’ was devastating, killed at least 191 people, and left hundreds of thousands more homeless. (Gulati, 2009) Between 2019 and 2021, the Sundarban was struck by cyclones Fani, Bulbul, Yaas, and Amphan. Each of these cyclones was devastating enough to justify the fear of mass displacement. In the last 20 years, four islands have submerged, including Lohachara, the first inhabited island in the world to be permanently drowned. So, climate change is happening in Sundarbans, and it is real. 

 

Sundarbans: After Amphan

While the nation was grappling with the Covid-19 crisis, super cyclone Amphan hit with heavy rains, a massive storm surge and sustained winds of 170 kilometers per hour, and gusts of up to 190 kph (118 mph). It passed directly through the Sundarbans, devastating it. About 1,200 sq. km of the 4,263 sq. km, 28% of Sundarbans has been damaged by Amphan. (Sabrangindia, 2020) Most of the land is now submerged into the sea; people lost their homes, life savings, crops, and 98 people died according to the official statistics. (Bagchi, 2020) The residents of Ghoramara and Mousuni, two of the worst affected islands, are now truly homeless and landless.

 

Impact on the Ecosystem

Cyclone Amphan associated heavy rainfall, stormwater surges, severe flash floods, and rapid invasion of saline water majorly contributes to soil salinization along the cyclone’s path, leading to irreversible damage of agriculture and allied services. Stormwater surges induce salinity ingression into the freshwater ecosystems upstream through estuaries, creeks, and inlets, leading to change in Physico-chemical properties of the aqueous medium as well as ambient media. The salinity of water can significantly affect aquatic flora and fauna and alter freshwater biodiversity. Trees are turning yellow and red because of salinity. Sea surface temperature has also risen after the cyclone. 

Fluctuations in salinity concentration observed in sampling stations during Pre and Post Amphan periods. (Abhijit Mitra, 2021)

 

  

              Sea Surface Temperature during Pre and Post Amphan period. (Abhijit Mitra, 2021)

 pH concentration shows a significant difference during Pre and Post Amphan period. (Abhijit Mitra, 2021)

 

Mangroves being intertidal ecotone are particularly vulnerable to climate change stressors, such as the sea-level rise and increased salinity caused by the cyclone. Amphan has caused significant alterations to these mangrove forests, exposing forest fringe villagers’ life and livelihoods to further vagaries related to climate change and the ongoing COVID19 pandemic.

 

Socio-Economic Impact 

World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) provisional report on the State of Global Climate Amphan resulted in economic losses amounting to about $14 billion. (Nandi, 2020) Sundarbans has seen one of the worst socio-economic crises ever after the cyclone. Over the years, as the sea level rises, people built their houses well above the surface level to stay safe from the violent tides and flooding. However, as people rise 1 foot, the tides are heightened even more. This is unequal competition. Moreover, most of the people of Sundarbans are below the poverty line. 

  

 The economy of the Sundarbans is based on agriculture, fishing, and collection of non-timber forest produce, all-natural resource-based activities. The land is the most important asset of the people of the area. Amphan destroyed the creeks and embankments, bringing saline water into villages, destroying 109,577 hectares of cultivable land, and impacting 443,144 farmers (Sabrangindia, 2020). Whichever is left is now uncultivable due to salinity, and it would take years to bring these lands under cultivation. After the Aila, people started fish-farming in the farmlands, as it is more profitable. But the Amphan destroyed even those. It is estimated that about 10 lac houses and shops have fallen prey to the cyclone, leaving people utterly dependent on the emergency shelter homes. They have no source of income, and their homes are in complete ruins. People are also on dual-threat of COVID19 and water-borne diseases. People are starving for clean drinking water and food. People queuing for relief materials provided by the government and non-government organizations are the most common picture of 

 

Source: Joydip Mitra, Newslaundry

the cyclone hit Sundarbans. Cyclone Amphan also wreaked havoc on the 100-kilometer-long nylon barrier installed to keep tigers out of human settlements. People are now deprived of food as well as on the verge of being the food of the Royal Bengal Tiger. 

After the Aila, people started moving out of the Sundarbans. According to a study conducted a few years back, one in every five households of Sundarbans has at least a family member who has migrated (India, 220). However, the pandemic forced them to go back to their home. Now they do not have a job in the city, nor any livelihood opportunity in Sundarbans. 

 

Positions of different Stakeholders

The people of Sundarban, Department of Sundarban Affairs, Government of West Bengal, central Government, International Organizations, and NGOs are working in the conservation, development, and relief measures after the Amphan. However, some root causes are hindering development in various issues like mangrove conservation, building the embankment, economic development, and disaster management.

• Mangrove Conservation: One of the critical challenges facing mangrove conservation is inadequate understanding of their multiple roles due to poor research, particularly in climate change mitigation and adaptation. On the one hand, mangroves are diminishing because of residents’ agricultural enhancement in the forest areas. On the other hand, there are reports that women across the region have become mangrove crusaders by guarding and planting their hamlets with mangrove belts. After the disaster, the government started a massive mangrove plantation drive, but the results are far from reality. Even if the drive becomes successful, it will take years to grow. Various organizations like Sundarban Raksha Mancha, Discovery India, WWF are also working with the local community to conserve the mangrove ecosystem. However, most of the initiatives start after a disaster and then vanish after some time.

 

• Embankments: To make the Sundarbans habitable, earthen embankments were built to block the inflow of saline water. These embankments run for approximately 3,500 kilometers. The Aila embankment, which the government started building after 2009, is unfinished; only 2.5 KM is completed of the proposed 4.5 KM. Most embankments are made of mud and built by the residents. Nevertheless, these are useless in times of high tides and storms. Corruption at all levels of government hindered the development of embankments (Quint, 2021).

 

• Rehabilitation: The most prominent question that emerged over the last few years in Sundarban is, “Where will the homeless Go?” The government has encouraged people to go to Sagar Island, which is higher from the sea than the other islands (Gupta, 2018). However, the Amphan affected the Sagar; also, it is now sinking. Many people have gone to cities or settled elsewhere. However, there were no initiatives from the government to rehabilitate the people of Sundarbans and give them alternate livelihood opportunities.

• Relief Measures: During the aid distribution to Amphan victims last year, corruption reached a new high. Local leaders allegedly embezzled so much of the Rs 6,250 crore relief package for Amphan that the government had to act. Corrupt leaders were instructed to refund the undue benefits they had reaped for themselves and their families. Non-state actors also donated and sent aid to the affected areas, but no long-term plans were to mitigate future storms. 

 

Our best bet is to perform extensive monitoring and generate reliable data from a wide range of land and meteorological parameters. The multistakeholder approach for fighting future storms is missing. For a better future, academia and administration should work with local communities to mitigate risk.

 

Conclusion

The fate of the people of Sundarbans is a gross injustice to them. The disastrous incidents result from climate change, resulting from pollution. Ironically, those who stand to benefit the most from the carbon economy face the most severe global warming effects. There are no carbon-emitting industries in the Indian part of the Sundarbans other than a few brick kilns. On most islands, there are no fossil fuel-powered vehicles. People only live in the Sundarbans because of their proverbial resilience, and they must have a tiger’s strength and ability to survive here. We, the urban dwellers, are the reason for their fate. The only way forward for the survival of Sundarban and the earth, including us, is to act quickly to fight climate change because doomsday is not far away.

 

References                                                                                    

Abhijit Mitra, J. D. (2021). Amphan Supercyclone: A death knell for Indian Sundarbans. eJournal of Applied Forest Ecology, 41-48.

Bagchi, S. (2020, May 20). Trees fall like ninepins as cyclone Amphan strikes Kolkata. Retrieved from The Hindu: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/trees-fall-like-ninepins-as-cyclone-amphan-strikes-kolkata/article31635959.ece

Ghosh, A. (2012). Living with. Delhi: Centre for Science and Environment.

Gulati, S. D. (2009, June 1). Cyclone Aila 2009. Retrieved from India Water Portal: https://www.indiawaterportal.org/articles/cyclone-aila-2009

Gupta, J. (2018, January 15). Rising sea swamps island along Bengal coast. Retrieved from The Third Pole: https://www.thethirdpole.net/en/climate/rising-sea-swamps-island-along-bengal-coast/

India, T. T. (220, May 23). The Times of India. Retrieved from 'Everything gone': Sundarbans stares at bleak future, fresh ..: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/everything-gone-sundarbans-stares-at-bleak-future-fresh-wave-of-migration/articleshow/75925941.cms

Nandi, J. (2020, December 4). Cyclone Amphan led to $14 billion economic losses, says global report. Retrieved from The Hindustan Times: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cyclone-amphan-led-to-14-billion-economic-losses-says-global-report/story-FWbYlDCccVSgIDNna93W5L.html

Quint, T. (Director). (2021). Surviving The Sundarbans: Homeless, to Homeless Again, The Tales of Climate Refugees [Motion Picture].

Sabrangindia. (2020). Help the Sundarbans recover from the impact of Cyclone Amphan. Sabrangindia.