Sudeshna Pal (43) from West Bengal will start a solo kayaking expedition from Ahiran Ghat, Murshidabad, West Bengal to Princep Ghat, Kolkata to promote environmental rights. She is likely to cover a total of 400 km distance on the surface of the River Ganges in 14 days.
"The main objective is to travel across the villages situated on the bank of Ganga and other rivers on the way and to meet the villagers to demonstrate the importance of the Ganga in their lives and how to protect it, " Sudeshna Says. On 25th November 2023, the associated members and the foundations helping her in the expedition gathered at the Kolkata Press Club to discuss the entire plan.
Sudeshna Pal on the right to the flag
Climber and activist Sanjay Das who is coordinating the support team for Sudeshna says, " We will conduct plenty of sessions at the villages on the way to make a common man understand what their role and responsibilities are to protect the river. Cultural programs, slogans, street drama etc. would be the medium of our work." It is also planned that environment-related data will also be collected by the team. " Soumitra Ghosh Dostidar, an independent documentary filmmaker will make a film featuring the expedition, " Sanjay added. Advisor of the West Bengal Mountaineering and Sports Foundation Debdas Nandi was also present at the press meet and he wished her success and assured her all kinds of support from his side. Veteran climber Gautam Dutta recalls the infamous accident that took place at Baghmundi, Purulia which claimed three lives of climbers in a flash flood in 2006. " It happened due to our ignorance of not cleaning up the sources of the river regularly. It was a man-made accident. Mass awareness is the need of the hour," he added. The expedition is backed and supported by the Paschim Banga Bigyan Mancha and Nadi Bachao Jibon Bachao Andolon. Saurav Chakraborty from Bigyan Mancha reminds the role of Govt. initiatives to bring the pollution level down. Climber Shyamal Sarkar wished Sudeshna good luck and shared his expedition experience in water sports on the Ganga. Activist Prasun Acharya talks about the present socio-political scenario of Bengal in the environment.
The team has shared their intended expedition itinerary, which is as follows:
29 November 2023: Expedition starts at Ahiran Ghat, stay at Hazarduari
30 November, 2023: Behrampur
01 December, 2023 Palasi
02 December 2023: Uddharanpore
03 December, 2023: Katwa / Matiari
04 December, 2023 : Agradeep
05 December, 2023: Kashidanga
06 December, 2023: Nabadwip
07 December, 2023:Sreerampur
08 December 2023: Shantipur/Kalna
09 December, 2023: Balagarh/Sabujdeep
10 December, 2023: Kalyani
11 December, 2023: Barackpore
12 December, 2023: Princep ghat, Kolkata
