The Sundarbans region in West Bengal is facing a threat to its residents due to repeated damage of mesh fences caused by natural calamities like cyclones and high tide waves. The damaged fences have become an easy passage for tigers to enter the areas surrounding the forest, posing a risk to the people’s lives. The government has installed multiple types of fences, including nylon and electric, to safeguard the residents, but they have been destroyed time and again. The fear of tigers still instills among the people of the Samsher Nagar area of Hingalganj and Sundarban area of Basirhat Mahakuma, even though modern fencing has been arranged by the administration for their protection.
The repeated damage to the mesh fences in the Sundarbans due to natural calamities such as cyclones and high tide waves has created a dangerous situation for the residents of the area. As the fences get damaged, they become an easy passage for tigers and other wild animals to enter the areas surrounding the forest, increasing the risk for the local population. It is important for the authorities to take adequate measures to repair and reinforce the fencing to ensure the safety of the residents. According to Akbar Gazi, the local resident, the government has tried to replace the mesh fencing with electric fencing in the past, but it led to the death of deers and tigers. Now, forest mesh fencing has been introduced, which has reduced the problem but not completely solved it. He further stated that many fishermen still lose their lives after entering the forest.