Action taken report by the District Magistrate and Collector, South 24 Parganas on steps taken to prevent coastal erosion, Sagar Island, West Bengal, 22/02/2025
Action taken report in the form of affidavit on behalf of the District Magistrate and Collector, South 24 Parganas District dated February 22, 2025.
The matter related to a newspaper report which appeared in the Hindu, January 15, 2024 titled "Rising sea, shrinking sands erode vibrancy of Ganga Sagar mela". The report was in response to the NGT order, January 7, 2025 wherein the court directed the District Magistrate to file a fresh affidavit to show what steps have been taken with regard to the implementation of the recommendations made by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSM).
In compliance to the NGT order the District Magistrate, South 24 Parganas issued letters to the Executive Engineer, Kakdwip Irrigation Division and Divisional Forest Officer, South 24 Parganas by requesting them to submit a report on the steps taken with regard to the implementation of the recommendations made by NCSM.
The Executive Engineer, Kakdwip Irrigation Division in its report, February 19, 2025 said that for the sustainable protection and prevention of saline ingress at Shibpur, one scheme "Raising and strengthening of Sundarban embankment" has been prepared. The scheme is under technical scrutiny of the Irrigation Department. Implementation of living shoreline at the eroding sites (Shibpur) to stabilize the coast and safeguard life and property of the coastal community is under study at River Research Institute (RRI) of Irrigation department depending upon latest or available bathymetry data at the site and adjoining area.
On November 15, 2024 the Joint Secretary (Works), Irrigation and Waterways Department has in principle accepted the proposal with request to arrange the site visit at earliest to suggest immediate short-term measure which needs to be implemented before Ganga Sagar mela and also to derive the way forward for long term solutions. Before Gangasagar Mela, 2025, the damaged river bank was restored from the left side and also from Pilgrim road 1 to Pilgrim road 3. Apart from that the damaged bank in between Pilgrim road 03 to Pilgrim road 6 has also been restored. Restoration of both the above mentioned works have been done by transported earth, bullah driving, geo-synthetic, earth filled poly bags, nylon crates.
The report filed by the Divisional Forest Officer, South 24 Parganas, February 19, 2025 said that administrative approval has been received for creation of CSB plantation over 12 hectare area at Sagar island near the Kapil Muni ashram along with several nature based interventions. This will help in mitigating the issue of coastal erosion. In addition, over the years, 24 Parganas (South) Forest Division has undertaken mangrove and other plantations in Sagar Island. These act as a natural barrier against coastal erosion by accumulating sediment and building land over time.