In News:

Recently, several Ministers of the West Bengal government gathered at a conference room on Sagar Island, situated at the mouth of the Bay of Bengal — the southernmost tip of the State — to brief mediapersons on the arrangements for the Gangasagar Mela 2025.

Gangasagar Mela: Overview

• Second-largest human congregation in the world, after the Kumbh Mela.
• Held annually on Makar Sankranti (January 14) at the confluence of River Ganga and Bay of Bengal.
• Pilgrims take a holy dip at the confluence; site houses the Kapil Muni Temple.
• In 2025, the West Bengal government claimed over 1.10 crore pilgrims visited.

Location & Geography

• Sagar Island (Sagardwip/Ganga Sagar):
  • Located ~120 km from Kolkata.
  • Largest island in the Sundarbans archipelago.
  • Population: ~2 lakh (2011 Census).
  • Classified under the sand group category.
  • Accessed by crossing the Muriganga River via ferry.

Climate Change Impact

• Rising sea levels and erosion are threatening Sagar Island:
  • Sea has advanced from 1,500 m to 470 m from the Kapil Muni Temple in ~10 years.
  • Tidal surge rises from 4.6 m to 7.6 m during high tides.
• Erosion worsened by:
  • Mangrove destruction for construction during mela.
  • Flattening of sand dunes and vegetation, removing natural barriers.

Environmental Challenges

• Constructions often violate Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms (no construction within 500 m of high tide line).
• Beaches have turned muddy, unfit for bathing; pilgrims walk through marshes.
• Concrete embankments, built after removing mangroves, washed away during cyclones.
• Geotextiles used for erosion control are ineffective near the temple due to strong wave action.

Cyclones & Vulnerability

• Recent major cyclones: Yaas (2021), Remal (May 2024), Dana (Oct 2024).
• Local communities frequently displaced; loss of livestock and property reported.
• Rising salinity impacting fish farming and livelihoods.

Socio-Economic Impact

• Youth migration due to lack of job opportunities.
• Local economy disrupted by environmental stress.
• Many locals say the mela offers little direct benefit to them.

Governance and Policy Issues

• West Bengal government spent ~?250 crore in 2024 for mela arrangements.
• Proposed ?4,100 crore World Bank-funded embankment project:
  • World Bank: 70% cost; State: 30%.
  • Aimed at protecting 52 inhabited islands in Sundarbans.
• Centre-State conflict:
  • WB government alleges non-cooperation from the Centre.
  • No Central funds provided for the mela, unlike the Kumbh Mela.
  • Demand for national mela status for Gangasagar.

Cultural and Political Dimensions

• Religious significance emphasized by Shankaracharya of Puri.
• Soft Hindutva strategy attributed to West Bengal’s ruling party (TMC).
• Political undertones visible in temple construction and event promotion.