Ghoramara Island in Sunderbans is experiencing massive coastal erosion. Photo © Women's Feature Service

Sunderbans (West Bengal), Feb 25 (IANS) West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi Wednesday said the shrinking of the Ghoramara Island due to rising sea levels posed a threat not just to India, but to the world as well. ‘The accelerated shrinking of the Ghoramara due to the advancing sea is a threat not just for the island or the state or India, but the world,’ Gandhi said at the premiere of a documentary film here on the lives of climate change victims. Ghoramara Island is located in the Sunderbans, the delta region of the Bay of Bengal, about 150 km south of Kolkata. ‘Over the past 25 years, the island has been eaten away by the sea – from nine square kilometres, it has been whittled down by almost 50 percent to just about 4.7 sq km. If this continues, then very soon the island will disappear totally,’ Gandhi said. ‘The sea level is rising at an alarming rate due to global warming across the world. Besides, there is accelerated soil erosion. Looking at the condition of Ghoramara, I feel its high time all countries curbed carbon emissions,’ he added. … Over the last 30 years, more than 7,000 people have been forced to move out of their homes on the island. Some shifted to the nearby Sagar Island, while others moved to Kolkata. …

Shrinking of West Bengal island is a serious threat: governor