EAST KOLKATA WETLANDS An Ecosystem that Needs Protection Sharmila Sinhanthe 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 EnhydsiAGRICLITLRE WORLD > Aarcatre www krishilagran.com JUNE 2024 | 39DD Avianture 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 48 JUNE 2021 eww krishijagran.comD> Aerator AGRICLIURE WORLD 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,