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12.4 Cogitations from the Expatriate
12.4.1 Environmental Stresses in the Case Study Areas
An outline of the environmental character of the northern study area in the district
of Cooch Behar reveals that climatically it has a highly humid atmosphere with
abundant rains, often crossing the mark of 2500 mm per annum and highly fluctuating seasonal temperatures from 36° to 37 °C in summers to 5° to 7 °C in the winter
months on the average (GoI 2016). The highest rainfall usually occurs in the months
of July and August, ranging from around 600 mm to more than 800 mm in a single
month. Numerous Himalayan rivers dissect the southern boundary of the district,
the boundary of which is shared by Bangladesh. The river basins including Teesta,
Torsa, Kaljani and Raidak are frequently prone to high intensity rains and flash
floods submerging major areas along the banks especially in the monsoon season
(GoI 2011a, b). The depth of river beds are highly reduced resulting in devastating
floods, endangering the vital lines of communication human habitation, farm land,
forests, etc. The increase in river load and changes of river courses leads to floods
and flash floods frequently in this geomorphic region (Sarkar 2004; Roy and Sarkar
2011). A report on the flood occurred in 2012 due to continuous rainfall in Sankosh,
Raidak and Kaljani rivers heavily impacted Tufanganj-I and II, Dinhata-I, Cooch
Behar-I and II Blocks affecting over 40,000 people. The Irrigation and Waterways
Department of West Bengal estimated that in Dinhata I and Dinhata II Blocks, a
total of 21,836 households of Salbari-I and II, Gosanimari-I and II, Petla, Boro
Sialmari, Atiabari-I and II and Gitaldaha-I and II areas are flood prone from the
main rivers of Singimari, Dharla and Baniadaha (Dey 2015). There were some eyewitnesses of this tragic event of flash flood, at Gitaldaha in Dinhata. Along with the
cultivable land, major small dwelling units, which was situated 2 km away from the
present habitations, was hit by a massive flash flood of over 1 m high floodwater and
washed away more than 15 houses situated there. In October, 2017 when again the
land was flooded, all people had to take shelter in the higher grounds across a discarded train line, and the dwelling units near the river bank had to be relocated again
(Fig. 12.3).
The villagers lost about 3–4 bighas (nearly 1 ha) of lands, on the average, every
year due to river erosion. 0.5–1 m high water destroyed cultivable lands and standing crop. As cultivation is the main source of occupation for the villagers, they lead
a life under constant threats from floods, inundation and erosion hazards. A frequent
change in river course is the primary reason to build a temporary residence at convenient higher ground at a distance.
Ghoramara Island in the Sundarban delta complex of the Bay of Bengal region
has changed its coastlines almost every year, and hundreds of inhabitants have lost
their homes. Owing to its location within a tidal creek and having a low elevation,
the island is very susceptible to severe hazards like cyclonic storms and tidal surges.
It appears from various studies that severe and super cyclonic storms are increasing
in frequency during the recent years, which create an alarming situation for the
A. Haldar et al.
12.4 Cogitations from the Expatriate
12.4.1 Environmental Stresses in the Case Study Areas
An outline of the environmental character of the northern study area in the district
of Cooch Behar reveals that climatically it has a highly humid atmosphere with
abundant rains, often crossing the mark of 2500 mm per annum and highly fluctuating seasonal temperatures from 36° to 37 °C in summers to 5° to 7 °C in the winter
months on the average (GoI 2016). The highest rainfall usually occurs in the months
of July and August, ranging from around 600 mm to more than 800 mm in a single
month. Numerous Himalayan rivers dissect the southern boundary of the district,
the boundary of which is shared by Bangladesh. The river basins including Teesta,
Torsa, Kaljani and Raidak are frequently prone to high intensity rains and flash
floods submerging major areas along the banks especially in the monsoon season
(GoI 2011a, b). The depth of river beds are highly reduced resulting in devastating
floods, endangering the vital lines of communication human habitation, farm land,
forests, etc. The increase in river load and changes of river courses leads to floods
and flash floods frequently in this geomorphic region (Sarkar 2004; Roy and Sarkar
2011). A report on the flood occurred in 2012 due to continuous rainfall in Sankosh,
Raidak and Kaljani rivers heavily impacted Tufanganj-I and II, Dinhata-I, Cooch
Behar-I and II Blocks affecting over 40,000 people. The Irrigation and Waterways
Department of West Bengal estimated that in Dinhata I and Dinhata II Blocks, a
total of 21,836 households of Salbari-I and II, Gosanimari-I and II, Petla, Boro
Sialmari, Atiabari-I and II and Gitaldaha-I and II areas are flood prone from the
main rivers of Singimari, Dharla and Baniadaha (Dey 2015). There were some eyewitnesses of this tragic event of flash flood, at Gitaldaha in Dinhata. Along with the
cultivable land, major small dwelling units, which was situated 2 km away from the
present habitations, was hit by a massive flash flood of over 1 m high floodwater and
washed away more than 15 houses situated there. In October, 2017 when again the
land was flooded, all people had to take shelter in the higher grounds across a discarded train line, and the dwelling units near the river bank had to be relocated again
(Fig. 12.3).
The villagers lost about 3–4 bighas (nearly 1 ha) of lands, on the average, every
year due to river erosion. 0.5–1 m high water destroyed cultivable lands and standing crop. As cultivation is the main source of occupation for the villagers, they lead
a life under constant threats from floods, inundation and erosion hazards. A frequent
change in river course is the primary reason to build a temporary residence at convenient higher ground at a distance.
Ghoramara Island in the Sundarban delta complex of the Bay of Bengal region
has changed its coastlines almost every year, and hundreds of inhabitants have lost
their homes. Owing to its location within a tidal creek and having a low elevation,
the island is very susceptible to severe hazards like cyclonic storms and tidal surges.
It appears from various studies that severe and super cyclonic storms are increasing
in frequency during the recent years, which create an alarming situation for the
A. Haldar et al.