Traditional seasonal fishworkers on the island of Jambudwip, situated in the Bay of Bengal about 8 Kilometers to the southwest of Fraserganj in the South 24- Parganas district of West Bengal, India, are currently facing a desperate struggle for survival. Facing eviction from local Forest Officials since end of 2001 and the certain invasion of the natural environment due to tourism projects signed in October 2002, the people and the land, wildlife, and natural resources of Jambudwip are in danger of irreparable devastation.

10,000 fishermen make a living by transient fishing from October to February in Jambudwip. While 90% of these come from South 24 Paraganas District, W. Bengal, people also come during this season from other districts of W. Bengal as well as Orissa and Bihar. At least 10,000 more earn a living through ancillary occupations such as drying, transporting, and marketing these fish which form part of the staple diet of the majority population, particularly those living in the hilly regions of the North and North-East.

The Bakkhali office of the Forest Department has issued fishing passes each year upon payment of a fee. The rights of the traditional fishing and farming communities in the coastal zone have been upheld both by the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification (1991) and by the Supreme Court in 1996.

Since the end of 2001, and more intensely since March 2002, the Forest officials and civil administration of South 24 Parganas started propagating that fishermen will not be allowed to land and dry fish in Jambudwip any more. The entire move is attributed to ecological conservation. However the same Government has permitted the establishment of several intensive aquaculture farms, tourism projects, watch towers, etc. in the Sundarban reserve forest area destroying thousands of acres of plush mangroves. These ecologically destructive activities, taking place in spite of the establishment of the Biosphere Reserve and violating all restrictions of reserve forest, have become a trend. Sundarban Aquatics (within stone’s throw of the Bak Khali office of the Forest Department), The World Bank aided Shrimp farms in the Matla river bank at Canning (with in a few hundred meters of the Biosphere reserve office!), IFAD and AKG aquaculture projects at Jharkhali in the heart of the thick mangrove forests are only a few examples among many.

It is ironical to see a government allow such massive destruction of mangroves and the related ecology to benefit individuals and companies on one hand and cite grave concern for the mangroves as a plea to evict thousands of traditional fishers on the other hand - who have been using only 350 (of total 2250) hectares of land seasonally for a customary practice for making a living!

As the recent fishing season began, a Memorandum of Understanding for a Rs. 700 crore eco-tourism project in Sunderbans is signed between the Govt of WB and SAHARA INDIA on 30th Oct 2002. The project proposes boating, rafting, surfing, rowing, diving, creek excursion and other water sports in the area. Five star hotels, floatels, beach-resorts, etc. are also part of the project.

Since then fisherpeople’s access to the island has been severely restricted, even during the terrible cyclone of 12 November when they were not even allowed to enter the channels and rescue their colleagues, boats and equipment. The forest department destroyed all implements and tools of the previous years. With nearly half of the fishing season over, the fisherpeople are desparately struggling for survival and protection of their livelihood and the natural environment of which they are an integral part since generations.

It is inhuman to see land being grabbed away from the people under the name of eco-tourism, which is no way to protect nature but simply another way for the government to sell it as a luxury to the rich, depriving the poor of livelihood. Pollution in this region has already forced the extinction of several species of rhino, buffalo and dolphin. Opening the area to tourism will certainly destroy more of the hitherto undisturbed wilderness and displace traditional farmers and fishworkers whose environmentally sustainable methods relying on solar energy and employing and nourishing thousands of people.

Sunderbans falls in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Category I, where no construction activity for tourism is permitted. The proposed mega tourism drive is thus illegal in view of the law of the land.

WE demand first and foremost, that the traditional fishworkers be allowed their customary access for fishing and drying on Jambudwip island, that compensation be paid for losses incurred. Furthermore the proposed mega-tourism project must be cancelled and any further such projects be planed only in compliance with the law of the land, in consultation with the people, and with full information disclosed to the public


Medha Patkar
Thomas Kocherry
P. Chennaiah
Sanjay M.G
National Alliance of People's Movements