Low lying Bangladesh may drown
Famous author Amitav Ghosh’s book, The H
ungry Tide, on Sunderbans might have earned numerous accolades. But what’s really happening to the nation that inhabits the largest mangrove forest in the world? Built over the flood plains of Brahmaputra & Ganges, low-lying Bangladesh (3-7 feet above sea level) is on the verge of submergence. As predicted by environmentalists, the much debated global warming has led to large scale melting of Himalayan glaciers. And if serious steps are not taken now, this may lead to grave impacts by 2015. Brahmputra and Ganges, which join together in Bangladesh before falling into the Bay of Bengal, are filled by the melting snow of Himalayas. Deforestation in Bangladesh is one of the reasons that has led to a rise in the level of river beds, which has made floods not only recurrent, but disastrous. Since 1971, the frequency of the floods has augmented – 1974, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1998 & 2004. But the fear now is not floods. It is the likeliness of the complete submergence of the country. This is because as much as 15-20% of Bangladesh is already within 1 metre of sea level. Dr. Saugata Hazra of Oceanography Department, Jadavpur University told B&E, “The sea levels are likely to rise by5 mm/year.
For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article
Famous author Amitav Ghosh’s book, The H
ungry Tide, on Sunderbans might have earned numerous accolades. But what’s really happening to the nation that inhabits the largest mangrove forest in the world? Built over the flood plains of Brahmaputra & Ganges, low-lying Bangladesh (3-7 feet above sea level) is on the verge of submergence. As predicted by environmentalists, the much debated global warming has led to large scale melting of Himalayan glaciers. And if serious steps are not taken now, this may lead to grave impacts by 2015. Brahmputra and Ganges, which join together in Bangladesh before falling into the Bay of Bengal, are filled by the melting snow of Himalayas. Deforestation in Bangladesh is one of the reasons that has led to a rise in the level of river beds, which has made floods not only recurrent, but disastrous. Since 1971, the frequency of the floods has augmented – 1974, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1998 & 2004. But the fear now is not floods. It is the likeliness of the complete submergence of the country. This is because as much as 15-20% of Bangladesh is already within 1 metre of sea level. Dr. Saugata Hazra of Oceanography Department, Jadavpur University told B&E, “The sea levels are likely to rise by5 mm/year.For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article
Source : IIPM Editorial, 2007
An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative
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