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different island or inner locations in search of permanently safer habitation, as in
Ghoramara. The Jibantala rehabilitation centre was specially built for the displaced
population who had lost their habitation mostly from the eroding island areas within
the Sagar C.D. Block; thus this place is isolated from the main service centre of the
island. But it was observed through extensive field surveys that the colonies of
Jibantala and Gangasagar are facing severe problems like limited availability of
drinking water, electricity and poor sanitation. Situations in Gitaldaha too were
grime. With the increasing frequency of floods and change in the course of the
Singimari River, people are rapidly losing out land for cultivation and habitation.
Some of the respondents lost more than 10 bigha (c. 3 hectares) of land which were
grabbed by the River Kaljani. Some respondents now have less than 2 kathas (about
675 sq.m) on an average of land for cultivation. Agriculture being the primary occupation has thus compelled them to look for better livelihood options elsewhere. But,
land resource is almost finite in such a densely populated country; hence most people of this area live in dire poverty, earning about INR 2 to 3 thousand a month from
some odd part-time jobs (Figs. 12.6 and 12.7).
Fig. 12.5 Erosion of the Islands in Sagar Block. (Source: Bandhyopadhyay et al. 2004)
Fig. 12.6 (a) Gitaldaha, eroded school building (b) Breached Embankments, Ghoarmara. (Source:
Field Photographs taken by the authors, 2018)
12 Environmental Vulnerability and Displacement Due to Land Erosion: Selected…
different island or inner locations in search of permanently safer habitation, as in
Ghoramara. The Jibantala rehabilitation centre was specially built for the displaced
population who had lost their habitation mostly from the eroding island areas within
the Sagar C.D. Block; thus this place is isolated from the main service centre of the
island. But it was observed through extensive field surveys that the colonies of
Jibantala and Gangasagar are facing severe problems like limited availability of
drinking water, electricity and poor sanitation. Situations in Gitaldaha too were
grime. With the increasing frequency of floods and change in the course of the
Singimari River, people are rapidly losing out land for cultivation and habitation.
Some of the respondents lost more than 10 bigha (c. 3 hectares) of land which were
grabbed by the River Kaljani. Some respondents now have less than 2 kathas (about
675 sq.m) on an average of land for cultivation. Agriculture being the primary occupation has thus compelled them to look for better livelihood options elsewhere. But,
land resource is almost finite in such a densely populated country; hence most people of this area live in dire poverty, earning about INR 2 to 3 thousand a month from
some odd part-time jobs (Figs. 12.6 and 12.7).
Fig. 12.5 Erosion of the Islands in Sagar Block. (Source: Bandhyopadhyay et al. 2004)
Fig. 12.6 (a) Gitaldaha, eroded school building (b) Breached Embankments, Ghoarmara. (Source:
Field Photographs taken by the authors, 2018)
12 Environmental Vulnerability and Displacement Due to Land Erosion: Selected…