Two universities, one in Calcutta and another in Japan, have joined hands in countering environmental issues bothering the Sunderbans.

St Xaviers University of Calcutta and the India-Japan lab of Keio University in Japan signed a memorandum of understanding last Friday to work on issues of mutual interest. The disaster management of Sunderbans features at the top of the list.

The agreement was signed by Reverend Father John Felix Raj, the vice chancellor of St Xaviers University, and Professor Rajib Shaw, a professor of Keio University and a disaster communication expert.

State disaster management minister Javed Khan and acting consul general of Japan in Calcutta, Matsutaro Yamasaki were also present on the occasion.

“This latest collaboration is in sync with our consistent pursuit for quality research,” said professor Felix Raj.

The acting consul general of Japan referred to the long-standing relations between India and Japan and promised all support to the latest endeavour.

Javed Khan, minister for disaster management in the state, pointed out that Bengal is one of the most disaster-prone areas of the country.

“Japan has seen a series of high-intensity disasters over the decades. It can bring in important inputs to disaster management mechanism in Bengal,” said Khan.

Shaw pointed out that the collaboration would focus on climate change, disaster, and sustainable development.

“Our intended joint action and policy research on the Sunderbans will focus on the analysis of sustainable livelihoods, risk profiling and link to current, emerging and future markets, which will contribute to sustainability and resilient development of the area,” he said.

“It’s good that the collaboration proposes to link the market with resilience. Nearly five million people of the Sunderbans will not be able to survive just based on government doles and generosity,” said an expert on climate change.