A Delta in Peril

One of the largest deltas in the world is threatened by a thermal power plant. Sunderbans is home to a plethora of flora and fauna and the plant might devastate this huge carbon sink. The author shares his deep concern about the consequences of this development project on the world’s most beautiful forests!

- Deepansh Mishra

THE “SUNDARI” FORESTS

On the far eastern face of India, floating over the strong tidal waves of Bay of Bengal lie the world’s largest delta, the Sundarbans. Drained by two major rivers Ganga and Brahmaputra, it covers more than 105,000 square kilometres in India and Bangladesh, it forms the largest single block of tidal halophytic mangrove forest. “Sundarban” or the beautiful forest is a Biosphere Reserve as well as a World Heritage site. The present Sundarban National Park was declared as the core area of Sundarban Tiger Reserve in 1973, a sanctuary in 1997 and finally a National Park in 1984 encompassing 56 islands.

As we set out at the break of dawn cruising through the creeks, the joy of breathing some fresh air energizes the mind that was in a slumber. The “Sundari” tree (Heritiera fomes) which signifies the essence of “Sundarbans” dominates much of the mangrove forest. However other species such as Gewa (Excoecaria agallocha), Goran (Ceriops decandra), Keora (Sonneratia apetala), Passur (Xylocarpus granatum) and Kankra (Bruguiera gymnorrhiza) add to the diversity. Mangrove forests play a central role in transferring organic matter and energy from the debris and biomass to marine ecosystems and their dense root systems are home to fishes, crabs, shrimps and mollusks. The calmness in the waters is suddenly interrupted by synchronized movements of the rare Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris). A pod of around five dolphins obliged us with their magnificent presence. We expressed our gratitude in return by shutting down the roaring diesel boat engine and observing them as they maneuvered deeper in to the channels. Sundarbans are believed to have a high population of these elusive mammals, but its vast expanse and numerous water channels makes it a grueling task to sight them.