Though a rise of 2° C in average temperature may appear to be small, it would result in a rise of oje meter in sea levels by early next century. This wouldceffect large portions of our coastal areas and millions of people would have to be shifted. They would lose their livelihood. Neatly 200 sauatter families living in Nondanga in east kolkatta for the past few years are in the process of being evicted by the kolkatta metropolitan Development Authority(KDMA). Many of the families came to kolkatta in search of work, after the Alia super - cyclone ravaged sunderbans in2009. The faster meltingbof Himalayan glaciers would disturb the livelihood of fresh water fisher folk as their natural habitat of fish is affected. Climate change is something that happens at global level. Therefore,it affects all of us. The other effect would be rainfall. This is likely to be more erratic and lead to greater imbalances: some places are likely tobreceive excess rainfall whereas others would get less than normal. Hence droughts and floods are expected to increase. Thisvwould greatly affect the agriculture pattern and people's livelihood.
On March 30, the slum was bulldozed amid heavy police presence and some hutments were set fire. The recurrent thunderstroms over the past few days has ment sleepless. They work as house helps, rickshaw pullers and construction labourers.
