|
Sundarban, one of the most
backward regions of the State of West Bengal much owes
its origin to the premature reclamation from woody,
watery wilderness during the late 19th century when the
East India Company started leasing out few lots to the
Zamindars and the Lotdats.
The embankment put up by
early settlers for the protection of their cultivable
land, homestead areas, crops, poultry and livestock from
floods during high tides, obstructed the deposition of
natural silt by the rivers and as a result the entire
area remained flat and below the sea level. This
accounts for the perennial drainage problem in this
region. The high salinity in the soil as well as the
water, create acute shortage of water for domestic as
well as agricultural uses. The ground water is available
at a depth of 300 to 400 metres.
Tourism could be another
economic activity. But the infrastructure are still
inadequate. Scope for development in this sector is very
high.
The 54 islands of
Sundarban region are mostly separated by innumerable
creeks and channels and protected by 3500 km. of earthen
embankments. The communication facilities and other
amenities are inadequate and underdeveloped.
Consequently access to many areas is very difficult and
in the rainy season, some areas are cut off.
Inaccessibility is the main constraint to development of
the region. |
|
|
|
In 4500 sq. km. inhabited
areas, there is only 42 km. of railway line and about
300 km. of pucca road network. The only means of
communication between the islands is through the
waterways which is poorly organized and people have to
depend on the private mechanized boats which are
sometimes a serious life-risk. Due to obvious reason of
inaccessibility, much of the inhabited areas are yet to
avail of the conventional electricity supply. Of late,
there has been some perceptible breakthrough in the
field of solar power supply to a few locations. |
|
