The Annual Ganga Sagar Mela Dampened By Rising Sea And Erosion

At the southern tip of West Bengal, where the river Ganga meets the Bay of Bengal, lies Sagar Island. Every year, on the day of Makar Sankranti, pilgrims – commoners to ascetics – gather here for a holy dip in the confluence to wash away their sins and pay their respect to the presiding deity of Kapil Muni. The Ganga Sagar Mela attracts thousands of pilgrims, travellers, and photographers. Located about 135 km from Kolkata, Sagar Island gets taken over by throngs of people. However, the spirit of the festivities this year was not the same as the beach near the Kapil Muni temple, the centre of the mela, faces erosion due to the rising sea waters.

The Makar Sankranti holy dip this year was hampered due to the accumulation of mud on the beach in front of the Kapil Muni temple. Devotees found caution signs on the beach installed by authorities and were sent to other beaches on the island, away from the temple for the holy dip.

The Islands Under Threat

Several organisations working to track climate change have been monitoring the impact of rising sea levels near Sagar Island. The island is situated within the Sunderbans mangrove delta, a fragile ecosystem that is especially vulnerable to the growing threat of climate change. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1987, and it has been designated as a Ramsar site since 2019. It is considered as a World Network of Biosphere Reserve (Man and Biosphere Reserve) from 1989. The area is a popular place for boat cruises to explore the mangroves and spot the Bengal Tiger in its natural habitat. However, islands in the delta are steadily disappearing as the rising sea erodes and reduces the land mass. According to Greenpeace, erosion can be seen near the old lighthouse of the Kolkata port trust. In a PTI report last year, an official said that the beach near the Kapil Muni ashram had almost vanished due to erosion. And some roads near the temple are also vulnerable.

What's Being Done

According to reports, state authorities have taken some temporary measures to stop the erosion. As an example, using trap bags on the beach near the Kapil Muni Ashram. Trap bags are more effective than traditional sandbags in preventing flooding and erosion. According to officials, the  area of the beach was initially covered with soil, followed by sand-filled geotextile bags. The trap bags were added later to prevent erosion and make the restoration strong enough to withstand high tides.