EAST KOLKATA WETLANDS
An Ecosystem that Needs Protection
Sharmila Sinhanthe 1990s as a young scientist with
WWE [had an opportunity to accompany
Dr Asish Ghosh—former director of Zoo:
Jogical Survey of India (2S) and founder
of the first Environment Monitoring Wing in
Zoological Survey of India (Kolkata and Chen
nai) in the 1980s—and Dhrubojyoti Ghosh,
Chief Environment Officer, West Bengal, for
mapping the landscape, biodiversity flora and
fauna, and learning from people to understand
East Kolkaa Wetlands, aka dhapa, During
our zesearch, we understood that they are the
Earth’s Kidneys
We also realised that the rich biodiversity —flo:
a and fauna—of the wetlands mustbe kept in-
tact, and the rate marsh mongoose, which has
‘unique webbed feet like the duck, found only in
these marshes, had to be saved from extinction,”
says Dr. Debal Deb, one of the signatories to the
petition (PIL) filed in the Calcutta High Court
against the changes of land use in the Waste
Recycling Region of the wetland area. He is
also the founder of Basudha, a seed conserva-
ion farm in India, and Vrihi, one of the largest
‘non-governmental seed banks in the world.
Armed with research, People United for Better
Living PUBLIC)—aKolkata based NGO - and
Dr Deb, Dr. Asish Ghosh and Ds. Dirubojyoti
Ghosh, plunged into the battle. Finally, in 2002,
East Kolkata Wetland (EKW) was declared a
Ramsar site, Polluting tanneries were relocated.
Despite itbeing a " Wetland of International Im.
portance” under the Ramsar Convention, a sig
nificant part of it has been encroached upon to
build stadiums, colleges, bungalows and malls:
jin short, an entize township.
Pisciculture and farming was given priority
above biodiversity of the wetlands. “Time.
framed and priotitized action programs for
‘conservation of the only extant endemic Marsh
Mongoose had to be implemented urgently in or
der tp save it from extinction,” reported Jayanta
‘Kumar Mallick in ‘Endemic Marsh Mongoose,
Herpestes palustris (Carnivora: Herpestidae) of
East Kolkata Wetlands, India: a status report
(2009). “The reasons for the species vanishing
from one of the largest pesi-uban wetlands
in the country are massive changes in land use,
conversion of wetlands and wilderness areas into
‘built-up urban settlements and also due to changes
in the fisheries practices. Like this species, several
other wetland plants may become extinct if the
environmental conditions are not properly main-
tained from the ecological point of view.
Icis an indication of habitat destruction of this
impoztant wetland,” wrote Mallick, then personal
assistant to Principal Chief Conservator of For-
ests, Wildlife & Biodiversity, West Bengal Office
Wildlife Wing, Directorate of Forests, Govern
ment of West Bengal
What are these wetlands
Simated on the eastern part of the city of Kol-
Kata, India, EKW forms a part of the extensive
inter-distrbutary water networks of the Ganget
ic Delta. The 125 sq, km. area, which has been
shrinking constantly, is apart of the lower deliaic
plain of the Bhagirathi-Ganga River system and
is generally latin nature. Under the hazsh tropical
sun, the water undergoes change, getting treated
and cleaned as the bacteria disintegrate and the al
gae proliferate, serving as food for fish. The treat
ed water is used by villagers in the area to grow
vegetables and paddy.
EKW is also home to a diverse number of flora
and fauna endemic to the region. Dusing 1964
69, the Zoological Survey of India recorded 248
bird species, but by 2004 about 109 avian species,
of which 50% were aquatic, were locally extinct
Over 40 species of birds can be spotted at the wet
lands, The process of utbanisation, however, is
leading to the disappearance of many bird species
from the area.
Among mammals lost, are mongoose (Herpes-
tesedwardsii), small Indian civet (Viverticula indi-
ca), Asian palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphrodi-
tus), Jungle cat Felis chau), golden jackal (Canis
aureus) and smooth coated ouers (Lutrogaleper
spicillata) have also become rare in EKW, along,
with the marsh mongoose. Snakes of the East
Calcutta Wetland include Checkered keel back
(Fowlea piscatox), Smooth water snake EnhydsiAGRICLITLRE WORLD
> Aarcatre
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AGRICUILRE WORLD
senhydtis), Buff stiped keel back (Amphiesrnasto-
fata) and Bronze back tree snake (Tendrelaphispris:
tis)
‘When did it all start?
Some 200 years ago, this used to be a spill area of
the River Bidyadhari. Saltwater marshes also exist:
ediin the area, making it ideal for brackish water pi
sciculture by local fisherfolls. By the 19th century,
storm and sewage water from Kolkata drained into
these marshes, sharply reducing the salinity, mak-
ing itpossible for agriculture and piscicultre.
In the 20th century, with the increase of sewage
water, brackish water pisciculture died. It was re-
placed by nutrientrich wastewater, which helped.
in commercial fish-farming, beginning a new era in
resourcerecovery. After independence, a large pop.
ulation of refugees made this area their homes. By
1960, a detailed plan was laid out for water supply,
sewage, drainage, With regulations in place, Cal.
cutta Municipal Cosporation took charge of food
production of EKW.
Ecosystem Services
A study published in January 2018, ‘Spatio-tem.
poral vatiations in total carbon content in con:
taminated surface waters at East Kolkata Wetland
Ecosystem, a Ramsar Site’, by Sudin Pal, Sanjoy
Chalnabonty, Siddhartha Dana and Subhra Kumar
Mukhopadhyay, said, “These wetlands act as a car
bon sink and clean up the city’s air. The carbon is
sequestered in soil and biota (plant and animal life)
of the EKW [East Kolkata Wetlands] ecosystem. If
this 60% carbon is not stored by the EKW then it
‘would have dissipated into the atmosphere.”
The study wenton to say that each day about 1,000
million litre of wastewater of the city is channel
ised into the wetlands, which then filters it through
a three to four-week-long process of natural filtra
tion, aeration and sunlight, before being discharged
inw the Bay of Bengal. Through this natural pro.
cess, the wetlands save Kolkata a sum of Rs. 4,680
million a year in sewage treatment costs
It takes care of more than 80 per cent of the city’s
sewage, supports around 50,000 agro.workers and
supplies about one-third of Kolkata’s requirement
of fish. These wetlands produce natural fertiliser for
55,000 tonnes of vegetables and paddy, and 10,000
tonnes of fish annually, providing up to 50 per cent
of the green vegetables available in the city. These
‘gaibage farms’ are able to supply fresh food at alow
cost as there is no transportation cost to ferry ther
to the city. Thus, the ecological footprintof the food.
produced and consumed in the city is small, unlike
many metropolitans of the world. These wetlands
are also home to a wide vatiety of aquatic life, ves
etation, and hundreds of bird species
Challenges
In July 2017, a study published by Marika Vierian-
ya, Dhrubajyoti Chattopadhyay and. Somenath
Bhattacharyya, claimed that the resilience of the
wetlands is now only an optimistic presumption
unless addressing the heavy metal contamination is
factored into any assessment of the sustainability
of the wetlands. At the start of the water inflow in
EKW, the waterworks merely cleanse the inflow
ing wastewater of solid waste like plastic bags, etc
One must remember that the nature of household
wastewater, too, has changed. Also, industrial units
situated neaiby let their waste flow via the drains,
which makes for 32 per cent of Kolkata's daily total
liquid waste.
This untreated liquid mixes with Kolkata’s ston
water and sewage, The toxic concoction of indus
tial runoff, stormwater, sewage and household liq-
uids then run through the drains of the city. Thus,
the sewage that enters the wetlands is a composite
of biodegradable, toxic, and non biodegradable
matter, including a range of heavy metals.
Thete is a need w do more study on the quality
of the wastewater inflow in the storm water. Also,
‘more than 8,000 industrial units will need to clean
their water before leting it low through the canals
More research and periodic monitoring are a must.
Till then, the 33-km-long canal flowing from the
pumping station to the East Kolkata Wetlands will
keep receiving water to give Kolkata residents their
food of fish, vegetables and rice, which will pose a
major health concern. Water laden with contami-
nants will continue to seep into the ground, making
it unworthy for use,
Climate Change Impact
Kolkata, with about 14.1 million people (uiban
and. metropolitan area) as per census of 2011, is
a low-lying city, barely five metres above sea level
(average). It has two major rivers, and hence, sur-
rounded by waterways. The wetlands are being
built upon for ‘development’ of the city—for high
tise apartments, institutions, roads, ete. The water
channels in EKW, which serve as an outlet during
the rains, have been blocked. They will inundate the
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city when rains lash. Then there is the real threat of
rising sea level of Bay of Bengal, where these rivers
drain out. With intensified cyclones and storms, this
will devastate the city and the neighbouring region.
‘According to the World Bank, an optimistic fore
cast of just 20cm of sea level rise by 2050 would.
still make Kolkata the third most exposed city in
the world w the sisk of flooding. Paced by the sising
sea levels and increased intensity and frequency of
storms brought on by climate change, cities such as
Guangzhou, Miami, New York, New Orleans and
Mumbai, according to a Wozld Bank study, are at
risk of the costliest damage.
These cities are now rethinking their relationship
with flood defences, both namral and artificial. In
November 2015, low-lying Chennai experienced
cataclysmic floods, which caused displacement of
1.8 million people. Chennai’s growth took away the
wetlands and marshes, which were the city's natural
flood defence. Twenty years ago, Chennai had. 650
wetlands in and around the city, which have been
reduced to 27. Mumbai lost 40 per cent of its wet-
ands between 1990s and 2005. Srinagar, which lost
50 per cent of its wetlands bewween 1911-2011, has
seen devastating floods because of Lack of outlet for
severe rains that the city experienced due to climate
change impact.
According to a World Bank study submited re
cently w the West Bengal government, dimate
change-induced impact will hit hard the eastern
part of Kolkata, essentially where EKW is situat-
ed. The poorest of the poor will bear the brunt the
most. The study points out that by 2070, Kolkata
will be the most climate change-vulnerable city in
the world, in terms of population exposure. Conse.
‘quently, by 2050, almost 40 per centof city area and.
47 per cent of city’s population (approximately 25
million) will be affected.
As the city is expanding towards the eastera ftinge,
EastKolkata Wetlands are being encroached upon.
Illegal structures have appeared across the area.
This is despite India signing the Ramsar conven:
tion, an intergovernmental treaty to conserve and.
promote sustainable use of wetlands. Lack of prop-
er drainage would be east Kolkata's nemesis, the
report indicawd. The report predicts a loss of Rs
10,800 crore that Kolkata Municipal Corporation
area will incur by 2050 because of floods, brought
on by climate change impact. The loss will be
mostly by way of damage to sesidential buildings
and properties, along with health sector and com-
merce. It also points out, “Kolkata and Mumbai in
India (ate) among the top 10 cities of the world that
have high exposure to flooding under the current
climate change forecasts.” We know climate change
is for real. Thus, itis even more important to keep
EastKolkata Wetlands healthy and thriving, for the
city to survive,
Conclusion
The vegetables and fish that the farmers here pro
duce are laden with pollutants, Industries are spew-
ing out pollutants into the wate that will soon
kill this entire ecosystem. The marsh mongoose
hhas vanished. A slow death is perhaps inevitable,
maybe not so soon. In these times of more frequent
and intense cyclones—cyclone Taukate and Yaas
formed successively within a week—we need to un-
derstand the importance of these wetlands. These
are fingers through which water on the land will
flow out. These are, thus, not only the kidney but
also the arterial system of the city that helps flush
water smoothly out of the city withoutbacklash. As
they continue to get choked, a devastation could be
justa natural calamity avay.
About mez
1M: Starmila Soha vote, fot, and venders helps peo.
leo He nd lar with communities and tabe the places
‘het ere bere the rad rid She wie als see, an en
courages others to do so. Throwgh food she talks about local art
sustainable food and festivals and their importance, more x in
today’s COVID stricken world,
References:
Cases On Protection OF Lakes
Endemic Marsh Mongoose Herpestes palustris (Garnivora:tler-
esitdae) of East Kolkata Watands, Inds a ais rerort by
Jaxrarta Kumar altiot Date of online pubbtction 20 April
2009).
Anew seudy on Bast Kolhata Wetlands carbon absorytion abt
ities isa wakes call for conservation.
East Kothata most vulnerae to cimate change: Would Ban.
20 [JUNE 2021
‘worwe krishijagran.com,