Sunderbans climate change is flashpoint – 10 April 2012, The Asian Age

The Sunderbans, spreading across West Bengal and Bangladesh, is fast emerging as the climate change flashpoint of the globe. Despite the warning signals of increased frequency of cyclones and tidal floods, the West Bengal government has drawn up a massive project to expand the Haldia port which will directly impact the western Sunderbans region. Environmentalists already complain against increasing oil spillage from vessels in and around the Mongia Port that are adversely affecting its biodiversity. Environmentalist Bittu Sahgal warns against the effects of oil spill on the growth and survival of the two species of trees (gewa and sundari) found in the Sunderbans. “Unless the state government, along with the Bangladesh government, takes decisive action, we are going to witness a bigger migration of climate refugees than what took place before the 1971 war,”. 

 

Sunderbans climate change is flashpoint