Indian Island Residents Vote With Sinking Hearts
Faizan Hashmi Published May 19, 2019 | 12:40 PM
Ghoramara Island, India, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th May, 2019 ) :Residents on Ghoramara fear that the votes they cast Sunday in India's election may be the last before their island sinks into the Bay of Bengal -- a victim of climate change's growing toll.
About 4,000 people, including poor fisherman Goranga Dolui, were on the electoral list for the island in the Sunderban delta.
"Those who could, have left already. How will the poor like me leave? We hope the government will help us start a new life," he told AFP.
Ghoramara is now about four square kilometres (1.5 square miles) having lost about half its size in the past three decades to rising seas.
Ghoramara's voters could still have a role in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's bid for a second term. His Bharatiya Janata Party has campaigned aggressively across West Bengal state and the result in the local constituency is on a knife edge.
But Dolui is pessimistic about his vote and the results to be announced on May 23 changing the future of the island which is only connected to mainland India by a one-hour ferry ride.
"We will keeping living here until we can't anymore," he said.
Ghoramara's election officer Swati Bandopadhyay said the island may be lost in two or three years as the rate of erosion accelerates with each monsoon season.
- Climate overshadowed - "People know this natural process is unstoppable and are gradually moving to the mainland," she added.
Thousands of Ghoramara residents have moved in recent years to Sagar, a bigger island in the delta, or Kakdwip on the mainland. But several islands surrounding islands are threatened.
Modi held one of his mega election rallies on the West Bengal mainland last week where he talked about security. The environment, however, has not featured in the election battle between the prime minister and opposition leader Rahul Gandhi.
Party manifestos barely mention the melting Himalayan glaciers sending water pouring into the Bay of Bengal, or pollution caused by coal mining, or shrinking forests.
There was little talk of the notoriety of New Delhi and 13 other Indian cities among the world's 15 cities with the most polluted air.
"Both major parties have sidelined discussion of the environment during the campaign," Aarti Khosla, director of Climate Trends, a New Delhi-based initiative on climate change and clean energy told AFP.
"Whilst the public across the world is generating awareness on environmental issues, it is clearly missing in India." Critics say the lack of debate on the environment has also clouded discussion on the key areas of agriculture, jobs, water supplies and migration.
Retired school teacher Satish Chandra Jana, 75, has lived all his life on Ghoramara but is despondent.
"We are struggling to live here and have even constructed a home on Kakdwip," he told AFP, sat on the deserted village square.
"I just don't feel like leaving this place. My heart and life story is connected to this island," Jana added.
The younger generation cannot afford to be as nostalgic as Jana.
Ghoramara is not connected to India's electricity grid and relies on unreliable solar energy for power. The disappearing farmland is taking jobs with it.
Tapas Kumar Sasmal, 50, a retired soldier who was born on Ghoramara and returned there to vote, said only about 10 percent of the original inhabitants remain.
Many who lost their land are now labourers on the mainland. "Life is tough," he told AFP.
"Some officials say the island will be gone by the next election. I feel it could happen tomorrow as we are at the mercy of natural disasters," Sasmal said.
"Everyone wants a safe life," said Khushbano Bibi, 41, who was busy cleaning poultry feed outside her small cottage. "We worry all the time that the sea may come.""If the government helps, we will move," she said, while adding that she was pessimistic that anyone in power is listening.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
PITB HR Wing organizes Eid Milan celebration for children at PITB Day Care Cente ..
SONY x TECNO - is this for real?
PTI to stage nationwide protests against alleged electoral frauds
Senate continues discussion on Presidential address to Joint Sitting of Parliame ..
Masood Khan calls for Pak-US cooperation for regional peace
Interior Minister starts Margalla Trail Patrol for security
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 26 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 26 April 2024
ICC Womens T20 World Cup Qualifier, Match 2: Ireland Women open with Comfortable ..
Robinson, bowlers help New Zealand go 2-1 up against Pakistan
Shahzeb Chachar to hold khuli kachehri on April 26
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
Modern Education Techniques: A pathway to achieve economic development
7 hours ago -
Kite Flying: From cultural festival to deadly sport
7 hours ago -
PDMA predicts gusty wind, rain with thunder, hails
3 days ago -
Iranian president Raisi given guard of honour at PM House
4 days ago -
Intellectuals, writers accolades Naseer Mirza on his literary contribution
5 days ago -
Bahawalpur Adabi Sangat hosts memorable mushaira
5 days ago
-
Cattle farming vital to alleviate poverty in rural areas
5 days ago -
Pakistan: A land of tourism, archeological wonders
5 days ago -
Transforming education sector: from job hunters to job creators
7 days ago -
Amjad Bobby remembered on 19th death anniversary for timeless contributions to music
11 days ago -
Legendary actor Nadeem’s 26 films released on Eid-ul-Fitr days in 50 years
12 days ago -
Besant Hall Cultural Centre to celebrate evening with Sanam Marvi on 26 April
12 days ago