A Review on the Causes and Consequences of Flood and Riverbank Erosion within Malda district of West Bengal

Abstract

The Malda district in West Bengal is a highly flood and riverbank erosion affected area and has been w itnessing devastating flood and riverbank erosion since last three decades. The flood in the district is mainly caused by the per­ sistent high water level in the river Ganga, Mahananda, Fulhar, Kalindi and Tangon all of which are flowing through the district. Out of fifteen blocks of Malda district, Kaliachack-1, Kaliachak-2, Kaliachak-3, Manikchak, Ratua-1 and some portion of English Bazar are the most vulnerable zone in respect of flood and riverbank erosion. The nature and factors leading to riverbank erosion are much more complicated to allow instant fixes. To prevent riverbank erosion, protective measures are continuing in the form of construction of earthen embankments and spurs along the Ganga riverside. Devastating ef­ fect of flood and riverbank erosion causes wash­ ing out of spurs and refined embankments in tandem. The fragile measures taken so far failed to secure impact on the rate of riverbank erosion and in effect lead to loosing more geographical and political areas of the district. Periodicity of flood and riverbank erosion continuing unabated has thrown the very existence of many habitats in the danger of extinction. In a wider perspec­ tive riverbank phenomenon has become respon­ sible for environmental, sociological, ecological, economic, geographical and political problems not only within the district but in the neighbor states Bihar and Jharkhand as well.