the picturesque Digha coast near Kolkata has been dogged by rapid erosion in recent years. Taking serious note of the steady deterioration of the coast, the West Bengal government recently sent an SOS to the Union government requesting it to protect the coast and its population from further environmental degradation.

"The Bay of Bengal is fast eating into the coastline from Digha to Junpur,' says state minister for irrigation Ganesh Mondal, adding, "if action is not taken immediately, Digha will be a thing of the past.'

Mondal says as erosion of the coastline is under the Union government's charge, an urgent message has been sent to the Centre urging it to take up protective work immediately.

The state government is also in the process of despatching to the Union government a comprehensive plan to save Digha.