Sinking Sunderbans

By Shilpy Arora

In the past two decades, four islands of the Sunderbans - Bedford, Lohachara, Kabasgadi and Suparibhanga - have sunk into the sea and 6,000 families have been made homeless

World’s largest Delta and mangrove forest, Sunderbans is going through an ecological disaster. Rapid changes in the world’s climate have made it one of the world’s worst places. In past four decades, the sea has eaten four of its islands- Bedford, Lohachara, Kabasgadi and Suparibhanga and as much as 6,000 families have lost their lands. This is the first time when sea has gulped an inhabited island due to global warming.

Can you tell me what has changed after the scientists exposed term ‘Global Warming’ and its threat to mankind? Well! Newspapers have devoted special columns to this new phenomenon of climate change, governments of the world have made few commitments on paper and people got a new issue to chit-chat. Nothing beyond that.

Though western world has taken few steps to minimize this menace but Indians are still sleeping. There are series of problems- lack of awareness, illiteracy, poverty, ignorance, lack of initiative and so on. Despite that India has lost four of its beautiful islands and thousands of people have been made homeless, you will amazed to note that more than half of India’s population is unaware of this fact. Besides, the biggest island in the Sundarbans, Sagar has lost 30 sq.km of its land and sinking gradually.

According to a research, in past two decades sea level in the Sundarbans has risen at an average rate of 3.14 centimeters which is much higher than the global average of two millimeters in a year. If sea level continues to rise with this pace then in the next 50 years, as much as 1,000 sq.km of the Sunderbans will be inundated. It not only affects the people who are living under a dilemma that they will soon loose their land but also increases the pressure on India’s land. It is predicted that pressure on Indian land will increase when Bangladesh, Maldives, Mumbai, Goa and some of Gujrat will be swallowed up by sea.

Government can only provide shelter to the people who have lost their homes in these islands. Most of these people are below poverty line and don’t have modern comforts that we possess in the big cities. They are more close to the nature and concerned about their natural habitat. But we in big cities are making their lives hell by adding every bit to the global warming. For instance, most of the families in big cities have refrigerators, air conditioners, our offices are equipped with array of lights which are lit even in daytime and we want to have as much cars as we can. And so called revolution in the world of cars, Nano will add a lot to it. Anyways, those who feel that they would not be affected by this are living in an absolute delusion.

It is true that you alone can’t fight with climate change but you alone can add a bit to it and remember, each drop of water fills the sea. You can spread awareness about the eco-friendly ways among your friends, family and colleagues. We are doing our bit by spreading awareness about this issue among web readers but when will you wake up.

NANO: ASPIRATION OF AAM AADMI

By Shilpi Aggarwal

Million of Indians look forward to Tata’s Nano as the fulfillment of their deepest desire for four wheelers. The excitement and euphoria among people could easily be judged by the recent Auto Expo, where people thronged in a large number to get the first glimpse of this world’s cheapest car. The car, which is called Nano has become the centre stage of discussion of people of all walks of life.

There are people who are welcoming this innovation with open arms. And, there are other sections of people who feel the car is a nightmare for already over burdened Indian roads and deteroiting air quality. Without a doubt, there is a growing possibility for such things to happen. Although the company has maintained that the car fulfils all the Indian safety norms and European emission standards, easy affordability translates into hundreds of cars on roads, creating unmanageable traffic menace, law and order problems and worst pollution.

But, let’s face the reality; the car is not simply the means of mobility for Indians. It is the aspiration of an average Indian.

Who are we, sitting in palatial bungalows, working in high rise building, driving the flashy cars, to make comments that the car is bad for the environment, thus the people shouldn’t buy it; companies should not come out with such innovations? Aren’t they have right to upgrade themselves, raise their standard of living, fulfill their ambitions (in India, the car is the symbol of prestige and social strata).

They are asked to stop harboring such aspirations just because they are bad for environment. Aren't we biased in distrubting the aspirations?

Such innovations will continue to come and heralding the world into a whole new phase. And, banning such innovations is not a solution. We may have to work on providing better public transport, quality mass transit systems etc.

Such measures, if properly well laid out and properly implemented, work. This is clearly evident from delhi metro, which has been quite successful in solving the delhi traffic management woes. Most people have increasingly started opting metro rather private vehicles in the wake of comfort and pollution free travel. In fact, traffic statistics have shown a dip of about one percent in motor vehicle accidents since the implementation of Phase I of Metro in Delhi. Even now, High capacity buses are also running on green fuel on delhi roads, which are high on comfort and green issues. More such mass transit systems are required with many other things in order to successfully counter the evils that Nano is expected to bring along with it.