MURSHIDABAD, INDIA // After surveying erosion around the banks of the Ganges river - a ritual he performs several times a day - Niyamat Shaikh wiped beads of sweat from his forehead with a cotton towel and slumped before his one-room, bamboo-walled hut, which he built a year ago.
Anxiety and despondence etched on his face, Mr Shaikh, 68, now living in the village of Bamnabad in West Bengal's Murshidabad district, stared at the river and at the other side, where he once lived in a brick-walled house and owned farmland in a prosperous village, before it was devastated by the river.
"The mad river has been swallowing villages one by one. All the sandbags heaped on the bank three days ago [to resist erosion] have been washed away," said Mr Shaikh, who has lost six houses to the river in the past 10 years and now catches fish for a living.
"The river has pushed us five miles away from the border. My house is now just 40 yards from the river's edge and there are new cracks in the soil, which means I will have to move to a new house soon."
In the Indian border district of Murshidabad, Mr Shaikh is one of at least half a million "erosion refugees" who have lost their houses, lands and livelihood to the Ganges.
As the eroding Ganges eats its way into villages, environmentalists and geologists warn of more devastation unless action is taken to save the "dying delta", which stretches across eastern India and Bangladesh.
"In a natural phenomenon, which has been happening for centuries, the course of Ganges oscillates within a stretch of 10 kilometres, eroding on both sides at an interval of some two to three decades. For the past decade, in its present turn, it has been shifting in a south-west direction," said Kalyan Rudra, a river dynamics expert.
Mr Rudra said the erosion was exacerbated by man-made factors.
"Erection of the Farakka Barrage upstream has worsened the erosion situation. The barrage has changed the gradient of the Ganges. Now the river is thrusting more forcefully on its right and eroding faster into densely populated Murshidabad villages," he said.
"Indiscriminate exploitation of groundwater, depletion of forest cover and unplanned human settlements in the region have increased the gravity of the situation."
River erosion afflicts the entire Ganges delta, which stretches across West Bengal and Bangladesh, where most rivers oscillate along their course, causing severe erosion.
But the Ganges and its tributaries, such as Jalangi and Churni in India, cause more extensive damage because they flow through softer alluvial lands and their catchments are densely populated, mostly with poor migrants from Bangladesh.
Police sources said poverty in erosion-affected areas of Murshidabad has led to an "unusually high" rate of migration and human trafficking to other parts of the country recently.
"After losing their agricultural lands, these former farmers are now landless. Most of these victims, who are Muslims, traditionally ignored formal education, which has further weakened them in seeking new employment," said Utpal Das, a local police officer.
"In search of jobs, desperate men and women are now migrating to big cities like Kolkata, Delhi or Mumbai.
"While the men are in menial jobs like pulling rickshaws in cities, the women are working as housemaids and prostitutes - all just to fend off starvation back at home."
Meghnad De, a local administrative official, said erosion has already displaced about one million people and every year about 100,000 are being added to the list of affected.
"The barrage authority [under federal government] is supposed to take care of the erosion, but they aren't. We are just providing some relief materials to affected people," Mr De said.
In Murshidabad, where the Ganges is shifting towards the right, wide areas on its left flank - where Mr Shaikh and other erosion refugees once lived - are now covered with thick layers of sand and are no longer arable.
"Officers [river experts] say, after some years my land in my native village will be arable again and I could return to my village. But for the past 10 years I have been living a life worse off than a beggar. The land will be arable after my death," Mr Shaikh said.
Experts suggest land on the path of oscillating rivers of the delta should be left uninhabited.
"The land should be used only for agriculture, where possible, and, if needed, for some temporary business activities," Mr Rudra said.
But most refugees, living far below the poverty line, said they cannot move away from the river.
"It is impossible for us to afford to build houses in a safer land away from the river, simply because we don't have the money," said Golam Kibria, another erosion refugee, who lost nine houses and shops to erosion in the past 10 years and whose wife migrated to Mumbai to work as a prostitute to support the family.
But Mr Rudra said: "Ganga provides a lifeline to these people. For them it is difficult to live away from this river which has become intricately entwined with their life and culture for generations, even though it brings occasional devastations."
* The National
Company%20Profile
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
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Company profile
Company name: Nestrom
Started: 2017
Co-founders: Yousef Wadi, Kanaan Manasrah and Shadi Shalabi
Based: Jordan
Sector: Technology
Initial investment: Close to $100,000
Investors: Propeller, 500 Startups, Wamda Capital, Agrimatico, Techstars and some angel investors
The%20stats%20and%20facts
%3Cp%3E1.9%20million%20women%20are%20at%20risk%20of%20developing%20cervical%20cancer%20in%20the%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E80%25%20of%20people%2C%20females%20and%20males%2C%20will%20get%20human%20papillomavirus%20(HPV)%20once%20in%20their%20lifetime%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EOut%20of%20more%20than%20100%20types%20of%20HPV%2C%2014%20strains%20are%20cancer-causing%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E99.9%25%20of%20cervical%20cancers%20are%20caused%20by%20the%20virus%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EA%20five-year%20survival%20rate%20of%20close%20to%2096%25%20can%20be%20achieved%20with%20regular%20screenings%20for%20cervical%20cancer%20detection%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EWomen%20aged%2025%20to%2029%20should%20get%20a%20Pap%20smear%20every%20three%20years%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EWomen%20aged%2030%20to%2065%20should%20do%20a%20Pap%20smear%20and%20HPV%20test%20every%20five%20years%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EChildren%20aged%2013%20and%20above%20should%20get%20the%20HPV%20vaccine%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Quarter-finals
Saturday (all times UAE)
England v Australia, 11.15am
New Zealand v Ireland, 2.15pm
Sunday
Wales v France, 11.15am
Japan v South Africa, 2.15pm
Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
Champions parade (UAE timings)
7pm Gates open
8pm Deansgate stage showing starts
9pm Parade starts at Manchester Cathedral
9.45pm Parade ends at Peter Street
10pm City players on stage
11pm event ends
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Two-litre%20four-cylinder%20turbo%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E235hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E350Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nine-speed%20automatic%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh167%2C500%20(%2445%2C000)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
Related
Scores
Bournemouth 0-4 Liverpool
Arsenal 1-0 Huddersfield Town
Burnley 1-0 Brighton
Manchester United 4-1 Fulham
West Ham 3-2 Crystal Palace
Saturday fixtures:
Chelsea v Manchester City, 9.30pm (UAE)
Leicester City v Tottenham Hotspur, 11.45pm (UAE)
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.9-litre%20twin-turbo%20V8%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E620hp%20from%205%2C750-7%2C500rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E760Nm%20from%203%2C000-5%2C750rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEight-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh1.05%20million%20(%24286%2C000)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Final results:
Open men
Australia 94 (4) beat New Zealand 48 (0)
Plate men
England 85 (3) beat India 81 (1)
Open women
Australia 121 (4) beat South Africa 52 (0)
Under 22 men
Australia 68 (2) beat New Zealand 66 (2)
Under 22 women
Australia 92 (3) beat New Zealand 54 (1)
MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 3 (Kroos 4', Ramos 30', Marcelo 37')
Eibar 1 (Bigas 60')
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The%20specs
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What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
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RACE RESULTS
1. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1hr 21min 48.527sec
2. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) at 0.658sec
3. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) 6.012
4. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 7.430
5. Kimi Räikkönen (FIN/Ferrari) 20.370
6. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas) 1:13.160
7. Sergio Pérez (MEX/Force India) 1 lap
8. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Force India) 1 lap
9. Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams) 1 lap
10. Lance Stroll (CAN/Williams) 1 lap
11. Jolyon Palmer (GBR/Renault) 1 lap
12. Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL/McLaren) 1 lap
13. Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Renault) 1 lap
14. Pascal Wehrlein (GER/Sauber) 1 lap
15. Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber) 2 laps
16. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Rosso) 3 laps
ICC Awards for 2021
MEN
Cricketer of the Year – Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Test Cricketer of the Year – Joe Root (England)
WOMEN
Cricketer of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Lizelle Lee (South Africa)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Tammy Beaumont (England)
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.