NETAJI SUBHAS OPEN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF SCIENCES H.Q.: DD-26, Salt Lake, Sector-I, Kolkata - 700 064 City Campus: K-2, Fire Station, Sector- V, Salt Lake, Kolkata -700 091 Kalyani Campus: First Floor, Academic Building, Kalyani Ghoshpara, Kalyani-741235 Website: www.wbnsou.ac.in ------First Circular

Call for Paper

UGC-DEB Sponsored

National Seminar

on

“Environmental Management with the Application of GIS

and Geoinformatics”

Date: September 9, 2017

Venue: The Seminar Hall (1st floor), Netaji Subhas Open University, DD-26, Salt Lake, Kolkata-64

Organized by

School Of Sciences Netaji Subhas Open University

DD-26, Salt Lake City, Sector- I, Kolkata- 700 064

Background and Invitation Dear Colleagues, Distance Education Bureau (DEB) sponsored one day National Seminar on “Environmental Management with the Application of GIS and Geoinformatics” is going to be organized by the School of Sciences, Netaji Subhas Open University, West , on 9 September, 2017 at the Seminar Hall (1st floor), NSOU, DD-26, Sector-I, Salt Lake, Kolkata – 700064. On behalf of the Organizing Committee it is our pleasure to invite you to participate in the seminar. The aim of the seminar is to create a platform for interaction of eminent academicians, scientists, students and researchers with the participants to broaden their horizon of awareness on “Environmental Management with the Application of GIS and Geoinformatics”.

About the National Seminar Environment is the prime threat vicinity to concern globally in the present day context. Environmental management is the key issue all over the world as we must act locally but think globally. For proper environmental management, the need of the hour is a comprehensive, systematic, planned way to ahead. It includes systematic structure, planning and resources for developing, implementing, mapping, monitoring and maintaining policy for better environmental protection. GIS and Geo informatics deals with the structure and nature of spatial information and also addresses the problems related to environment as well as other geo sciences. This technique can be applied to Natural Hazards and Disaster Management, Environmental Mapping and Monitoring, Integrated Coastal Management, Natural Resources Management etc. Geo informatics is broadly applied in the Environmental modelling and analysis, Agriculture, Aviation and maritime transport, Business location planning, Local and national gazetteer management, Meteorology and climate change, Oceanography and coupled ocean and atmosphere modelling, Transport network planning and management, Urban planning and land use management etc. As we are living with hazards in the environment, hazard and disaster management had been an integral part of human life in the present day contexts. Perhaps it would not be too rash to suggest that man has seen more events related to hazards and disasters during the last couple of years which directly or indirectly degraded our environment. The aim of the seminar is to create a platform for interaction of eminent academicians, scientists, students and researchers with the participants to broaden their horizon of awareness and knowledge to protect environment. Therefore the present seminar aims to create awareness among the participants and allied personnel to protect our environment in a better way. Hope this will help to think in a better way to promote environmental management and make our earth more beautiful to live healthier life.

Scientific Session The conference will include plenary lectures, oral presentation in the following areas: Focal Theme: Environmental Management with the Application of GIS and Geoinformatics

Sub-Theme: • Environmental Mapping and monitoring • Integrated Coastal management • Natural Resources management • Environmental modelling and analysis • Transport network planning and management • Urban planning and land use management • Land use management • Cosmic Hazards and Environment degradation • Solid Waste management • Social Environmental Hazards • Socio-economic Problems and management • Application of GIS and Geoinformatics

Call for papers While preparing the abstract for submission, please follow the instructions provided below: • Abstract words: 300 (emphasizing the objectives, methods, results and inferences) • Author Details: Name, email, designation, affiliated institution, mobile no. • Abstract submission: only through e-mail to the Organizing Secretaries • Full Paper Length: 4500 words without references • Format: Front size 12, Times New Roman, Microsoft Office Word • Line Space: 1.0, Page: A4 • Please follow APA format for citation • Oral presentation: should not exceed 15-20 minutes including discussion. • Publication: The edited papers will be published in the proceedings with ISBN number. • Full Paper: 4500 words (one soft copy + one hard copy)

Registration Fee Person Fees (Rs.) Research Scholars/Students: 500/- Accompanying persons/ Others: 800/- Teacher/ Faculty: 800/-

Mode of Payment: Payments should be made either in cash or by Bank Draft from any nationalized bank in favour of “NETAJI SUBHAS OPEN UNIVERSITY” payable at Kolkata.

Important Dates: Abstract Submission starts on 10 July, 2017 Last Date for Abstract Submission 21 July, 2017 Communication of Abstract Acceptance 31 July, 2017 Last Date of Submission of Full paper 25 August, 2017 Communication of full paper Acceptance 31 August, 2017 Final Registration Starts on 31 August, 2017 Last Date of Registration of all categories 9 September, 2017 (desk)

Abstract/ Full Paper Submission Mail id: [email protected]

Dr. Biraj Kanti Mondal Professor Kajal De Organising Secretary Director, School of Sciences

Registration Form

One-day DEB sponsored National Seminar on “Environmental Management with the Application of GIS and Geoinformatics”

(9 September, 2017)

1. Name of the participant: …………………………...... 2. Designation & Affiliation: ……………………………………………………………...... ……………...…….……………………………...... 3. Address for communication: …………………………………………...... ………………………………………………………...... ………………………………………………………...... Email: ………………………………………………...... Contact No. …….……………………………… 4. Title of the paper (only for presenter): ……………………….…………………………………...... ……………………………………………..……………...... …….……………………………………………………...... 5. Registration Details: a. Amount: b. Demand Draft / Money Receipt No: c. Date: Place: ………………………..... Date: ……………………….....

Signature of the participant

NETAJI SUBHAS OPEN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF SCIENCES H.Q.: DD-26, Salt Lake, Sector-I, Kolkata - 700 064 City Campus: K-2, Bidhannagar Fire Station, Sector- V, Salt Lake, Kolkata -700 091 Kalyani Campus: First Floor, Academic Building, KalyaniGhoshpara, Kalyani-741235 Website: www.wbnsou.ac.in ------UGC-DEB Sponsored National Seminar On “Environmental Management with the Application of GIS and Geoinformatics” Venue: Seminar Room(1st floor), NSOU Head Quarters, DD-26, Salt Lake, Kol-64. Date: 9th September, 2017 Programme Registration: 9.45 am to 10.25 a.m. Inaugural Session: 10:30 am- 12:00 pm

Resource Person and Designation Theme Time Welcome Prof.Kajal De Welcome address of the 10:30 am Address Director School of Sciences Seminar Address of Chief Dr.AmalKar Role of Geoinformatics in 10:40 am Guest Formerly Principal Scientist & Head at Changing Concept of Land Central Arid Zone Institute, Jodhpur Degradation Assessment

Keynote Prof.SunandoBandopadhyay The Indian Sundarban: Issues 11:00 am Address Department of Geography, and Challenges in a Warming University of Calcutta World Address by Guest Dr.ParthaSarathi Chakraborty Geoinformatics: Science and 11.20 am of Honour Chief Scientist, Department Technology for Environmental of Science and Technology Management

Presidential Professor SubhaSankar Sarkar Release of AV Lecture and 11:40 am address Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, NSOU Presidential address Vote of Thanks Dr.BirajKantiMondal Vote of Thanks 12.00 pm Asst. Professor of Geography, NSOU

Tea: 12:00 pm-12:15 pm

Technical Session I: 12:15 pm- 1:45 pm Chairperson: Prof.SunandoBandopadhay

Name Designation Title of the paper Duration

1. Invited Speaker: Scientist, West Bengal Computational Techniques in Environmental 20 Min. Dr AshimRatan Ghosh Department of Science Management – A Geospatial Approach and Technology 2.Invited Speaker: Asst. Prof., Presidency The Use of Very High Resolution Imager and 20 Min. Dr PriyankPravin Patel University Terrain Datasets for Micro-Level Structural and Geomorphological Analysis 3.Dipanwita Dutta Asst. Prof., Vidyasagar Impervious surface growth and its relationship 10 Min. University with urban heat island; a geospatial approach

4.Dr. Debasis Das Asso. Prof., Jadavpur Study to understand the relationship between 10 Min. University sky view factor…….. Kolkata

5.Dr. SnehamanjuBasu Asst. Prof., Assessment of Health Care Situation….New 10 Min. Lady Brabourne Challenger College

6.Subhas Adak Agronomist, GIS based Multi Criteria Decision 10 Min. Ramkrishna Mission, Analysis…..Thermal Power Plant

7.Amit Bera Research Scholar, Soil Erosin Risk Mapping…. Karha River basin, 10 Min. IIEST, Shibpur Maharastra, India

Lunch: 1:45 pm- 2:15 pm

Parallel session I: 2:15 pm - 3:35 pm Venue: Seminar Room Chairperson:Dr.AmalKar

Name Designation Title of the paper Duration

1.Invited Speaker: Centre for Geospatial Application of Geo-Spatial 20 Min. Arnab Kundu Technologies, Faculty of Technologies for Dry Land Issues Engineering and Technology Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad, UP 2.Dr. BirajKantiMondal Asst. Prof., Implication of Geoinformatics and 10 Min. Netaji Subhas Open University GIS …. of East Kolkata Wetlands

3.Sakti Mandal Asst. Prof., Sripat Singh Identification of Optimum Band 10 Min. College Combination…..A Statistical Approach

4.Samik Chakraborty Research Scholar, A district Level Analysis of 10 Min. Ravenshaw University, Municipal Solid Waste…West Cuttack Bengal

5.Subrata Mondal Research Scholar, Geomorphic Diversity and 10 Min. GourBanga University Landslide …….

6.Dr. Indrajit RoyChoudhury Asst. Prof., An Assessment of Traffic 10 Min. University Congestion…….Traffic Intersection Point

7.Manas Hudait Research Scholar, Acreage Analysis of betelvine 10 Min. Presidency University Crop…….…P.Medinipur

Parallel Session II: 2:15 pm – 3:30 pm Venue: Board Room (3rd Floor) Chairperson: Dr.ParthaSarathi Chakraborty

Name Designation Title of the paper Duration

1.Invited Speaker: Professor and Head, Adjustment of The River Ganga to Quasi- 20 Min. Prof.SujitMondal Department of Geography Natural Processes and Bank Erosion University of GourBanga Problem Induced Land Use Dynamicity in The Upstream of FarakkaBarriage, West Bengal 2.Dr.Debasree Bhadra Asst. Prof., Assessment of Quality of Life in a Urban 10 Min. Lady Brabourne College Slums…..Comparative Study

3.Dr.Sarbendu BikashDhar Asst. Prof., Appllication of geoinformatics in 10 Min. TDB College, functional regionalisation…..Barddhaman

4.Monalisha Chakraborty Research Scholar, AssessingSpatio-Temporal 10 Min. IDS, Kolkata Growth…..Shannon Entropy Model

5.Rakibul Islam Research Scholar, Role of Brick Kiln 10 Min. University Industry….., WB

6.Mahua Bardhan Asst. Prof., Netaji Geospatial Assesment of LST……………. 10 Min. ShatobarshikiMahavidyalaya Kalyani Municipal Area, Nadia, WB

High Tea: 3:35 pm -3:45 pm

Parallel Session III: 3:45 pm – 5:45 pm Venue: Seminar Room Chairperson:Dr AshimRatan Ghosh

Name Designation Title of the paper Duration

1.Dr.Anupriya Chatterjee Asst. Prof., An Analysis of Change in Agricultural 10Min. KishorBharatiBhaginiNibedita Landuse Pattern…….Nadia College

2.Firdousi RahamanSiddika Research Scholar, Impact of Stone Mining on 10Min. VisvaBharati Environment…..Case Study Birbhum

3.Mohana Basu Research Scholar, An Assemnet of Sustainability of Indian 10 Min. Jadavpur University Tranportation System

4.Tanmoy Basu Research Scholar, Impact and Vulnerability of 10 Min. Kalyani University Draught….

5.Krishanu Datta Research Scholar, Identification of areas vulnerable to 10 Min. VisvaBharati water logging ……: a multi-criteria decision approach

Parallel Session IV:3:45 pm – 5:45 pm Venue:Board Room (3rd Floor) Chairperson:Dr PriyankPravin Patel

Name Designation Title of the paper Duration

1.Dr.Mahua Chatterjee Asst. Prof., Lady Municipal Solid waste 10 Min. Brabourne College generation……Geographical Review

2.Dr.Asit Kumar Sarkar Academic Consultant, Monitoring od Flood Situattion by 10 Min. NSOU applying Remote Sensing Techniques

3.Md. KutubuddinDhali Research Scholar, Formation of Mid Channel Bar…..Jaldhaka 10 Min. Presidency University River, India

4.Suddhasil Bose Research Scholar, Lady Application of GIS in Management…..New 10 Min. Brabourne College Town, Kolkata

5.Rupen Mal Junior Geographical Morphometric analysis and Hydrological 10 Min. Assistant Behaviour…. and WB NATMO

Valedictory Session: 4:45 pm – 5:15 pm Venue: Seminar Room Distribution of Certificates.

……………******…………….

------Phone: (H.Q.): 4066 3217/4066-3220 (Sector-V)23577644 / 23572947 (Kalyani) 25826611/ 25025066

NETAJI SUBHAS OPEN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF SCIENCES H.Q.: DD-26, Salt Lake, Sector-I, Kolkata - 700 064 City Campus: K-2, Bidhannagar Fire Station, Sector- V, Salt Lake, Kolkata -700 091 Kalyani Campus: First Floor, Academic Building, Kalyani Ghoshpara, Kalyani-741235 Website: www.wbnsou.ac.in ------

Invitation for National Seminar

Dear Colleagues, On behalf of the Organizing Committee we are pleased to inform you that the School of Sciences, Netaji Subhas Open University is going to organize one day UGC-DEB sponsored National Seminar on “Environmental Management with the Application of GIS and Geoinformatics” on 9 September, 2017 at the Seminar Hall (1st floor), NSOU, DD-26, Sector-I, Salt Lake, Kolkata – 700064. We are inviting seven eminent speaker experts from different parts of the country and hope the seminar will gather by almost 100 expected participants from all over the country. We invite you in this august gathering and please circulate the information to the interested persons of your school. The seminar programme is attached here with for your ready reference. Thanking you,

With regards, Dr. Biraj Kanti Mondal Professor Kajal De Organising Secretary Director, School of Sciences

Report of the UGC-DEB-Sponsored one day National Seminar on “Environmental Management with the Application of GIS and Geoinformatics” held on September 9, 2017, at the NSOU Head Quarters.

After presentation of flower bouquets to the dignitories by the faculty members of the School of Sciences, the inaugural programme started with the welcome address delivered by Prof. N. D. Paria in absence of Prof. Kajal De, Director, School of Sciences, NSOU due to some unavoidable circumstances. Prof. Paria introduced all the dignitaries sitting in the dias in befitting manner. He made some comments on the theme of the seminar. Prof. Paria read out the messages of the Honourable Vice Chancellor, NSOU, Prof. Subha Sankar Sarkar, and Director, School of Sciences, NSOU, Prof. Kajal De, both of which further enlightened the theme of the seminar and its impact on the society. The Chief Guest, Dr. Amal Kar, former Principal Scientist and Head, Central Arid Zone Institute, Jodhpur delivered his address on “Role of Geoinformatics in Changing Concept of Land Degradation Assessment” which was much impressive. The keynote address was delivered by Prof. Sunando Bandyopadhyay, Professor of Geography, University of Calcutta, on “The Indian Sundarban: Issues and Challenges in a Warming World”. This address also enlightened the audience. Dr. Partha Sarathi Chakraborty, the Guest of Honour, spoke on the “Geoinformatics: Science and Technology for Environmental Management” which was appreciated by all. Prof. Chandan Basu, Director, School of Social Sciences, NSOU and acting President of the seminar made some remarks regarding the seminar. In addition, there were four invited lectures delivered by eminent experts. Altogether more than 66 papers were included in the Abstract volume of which 30 participants presented their papers. Prof. Subha Sankar Sarkar, the Honourable Vice Chancellor, NSOU, released the AV Lectures CDs and made some significant comments. At the end of the inaugural session, Dr. Biraj Kanti Mondal, Assistant Professor of Geography, NSOU and the Organising Secretary of the Seminar in his formal vote of thanks expressed gratitude to the dignitaries, delegates, participants, guests and the University Authority for their whole-hearted support for the success of the National Seminar.

ABSTRACT VOLUME UGC-DEB Sponsored One Day National Seminar Environmental Management with the Application of GIS and Geoinformatics September 9, 2017

ABSTRACT VOLUME UGC-DEB Sponsored One Day National Seminar SCHOOL OF SCIENCES Environmental Management with the Application NETAJI SUBHAS OPEN UNIVERSITY of GIS and Geoinformatics September 9, 2017

SCHOOL OF SCIENCES Printed at the Computronics and Published by The Registrar, Netaji Subhas Open University Copyright @ Netaji Subhas Open University NETAJI SUBHAS OPEN UNIVERSITY Cover designed by: Dr. Biraj Kanti Mondal ABSTRACT VOLUME

UGC-DEB Spo nsored One Day National Seminar

Environmental Management with the Application of GIS and Geoinformatics

at Seminar Room (1st Floor), NSOU Kolkata - 700 064

on September 9, 2017

SCHOOL OF SCIENCES NETAJI SUBHAS OPEN UNIVERSITY

CONTENTS

1. MESSAGES 7 2. ROLE OF GEOINFORMATICS IN CHANGING CONCEPT OF LAND DEGRADATION ASSESSMENT – Dr. Amal Kar 11 3. THE INDIAN SUNDARBAN: ISSUES AND CHALLENGES IN A WARMING WORLD – Sunando Bandyopadhay, Nabendu Sekhar Kar, Karabi Das 13 4. GEOINFORMATICS: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT – Dr. Parthasarathi Chakrabarti 15 5. ADJUSTMENT OF THE RIVER GANGA TO QUASI-NATURAL PROCESSES AND BANK EROSION PROBLEM INDUCED LAND USE DYNAMICITY IN THE UPSTREAM OF FARAKKA BARRIAGE, WEST BENGAL – Sujit Mandal 17 6. COMPUTATIONAL TECHNIQUES IN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT – A GEOSPATIAL APPROACH – A.R. Ghosh*, Kajori Parial and Debananda Biswas 18 7. THE USE OF VERY HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGER AND TERRAIN DATASETS FOR MICRO-LEVEL STRUCTURAL AND GEOMORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS – Priyank Pravin Patel 19 8. APPLICATION OF GEO-SPATIAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR DRYLAND ISSUES – Arnab Kundu 20 9. IMPERVIOUS SURFACE GROWTH AND ITS INTERRELATIONSHIP WITH URBAN HEAT ISLAND: – A GEOSPATIAL APPROACH - Dipanwita Dutta & A. Rahman 21 10. STUDY TO UNDERSTAND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SKY VIEW FACTOR, LAND SURFACE TEMPERATURE AND ITS IMPORTANCE IN LOCAL CLIMATE ZONE CLASSIFICATION CASE STUDY OF KOLKATA –Dr. Debashish Das & Santanu Bajani 22 11. GEOSPATIAL ASSESSMENT OF SHIFTING LAND SURFACE TEMPERATURE (LST) AND RELATION TO URBAN LAND USE/LAND COVER IN KALYANI MUNICIPAL AREA,NADIA, WEST BENGAL – Mahua Bardhan 23 12. GEOMORPHIC DIVERSITY AND LANDSLIDE SUSCEPTIBILITY IN THE BALASON RIVER BASIN, DARJEELING HIMALAYA – Subrata Mondal & Sujit Mandal 24 13. IMPLICATION OF GEOINFORMATICS AND GIS TO IDENTIFY THE CHANGE DETECTION OF EAST KOLKATA WETLANDS - Dr. Biraj Kanti Mondal 25 14. GIS BASED MULTICRITERIA DECISION ANALYSIS FOR LAND RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AROUND THERMAL POWER PLANT –Subhas Adak & Kalyan Adhikari & Koushik Brahmachari 26 15. ACREAGE ANALYSIS OF BETELVINE CROP THROUGH BOROJ DETECTION FROM HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGERY AND INTERNAL ARCHITECTURAL LAYOUT IN TAMLUK SUBDIVISION, PURBA MEDINIPUR – Manas Hudait & Priyank Pravin Patel 27 16. SOIL EROSION RISK MAPPING BY INTEGRATING RUSLE MODEL WITH GIS TECHNIQUES: A CASE STUDY OF KARHA RIVER BASIN, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA – Amit Bera 28 17. ASSESSMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE IN URBAN SLUMS OF KOLKATA: A COMPARATIVE STUDY - Dr. Debasree Bhadra 29 18. IMPACTS OF STONE MINING ON ENVIRONMENT AND LOCAL LIVELIHOODS: A CASE STUDY OF MOHAMMAD BAZAR BLOCK,BIRBHUM - Firdousi Rahaman Siddika & Dr. Krishnendu Gupta 30 19. ASSESSING SPATIO-TEMPORAL GROWTH OF URBAN SUB-CENTRE USING SHANNON'S ENTROPY MODEL - Monalisha Chakraborty 31 20. ROLE OF BRICK KILN INDUSTRY IN LAND DEGRADATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION: A CASE STUDY FROM DISTRICT MURSHIDABAD, WEST BENGAL - Rakibul Islam 31 21. MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS AND HYDROLOGICAL BEHAVIOUR OF BASIN, JHARKHAND AND WEST BENGAL, INDIA - Rupen Mal 32 22. ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH CARE SITUATION IN INDIA: CURRENT SCENARIO AND NEW CHALLENGER - Dr. Snehamanju Basu 33 23. FORMATION OF MID CHANNEL BARS WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON HYDRO MORPHOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES: A STUDY OF JALDHAKAG RIVER, INDIA - Md Kutubuddin Dhali 34 24. APPLICATION OF GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM IN MANAGEMENT OF SOLID WASTE: A CASE STUDY OF NEW TOWN, KOLKATA - Suddhasil Bose & Dr. Snehamanju Basu 35 25. MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE GENERATION AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICE IN INDIA: A GEOGRAPHICALREVIEW - Dr. Mahua Chatterjee 36 26. AN ASSESSMENT OF SUSTAINABILITY OF INDIAN TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM - Mohana Basu 37 27. APPLICATION OF GEOINFORMATICS IN FUNCTIONAL REGIONALISATION: A COMPARATIVE STUDY AMONG SOME COLLEGES OF PASCHIM BARDDHAMAN DISTRICT - Dr. Sarbendu Bikash Dhar 38 28. IDENTIFICATION OF OPTIMUM BAND COMBINATION FOR LAND SURFACE WATER MAPPING USING LANDSAT TM DIGITAL DATA – A STATISTICAL APPROACH - Sakti Mandal 38 29. IMPACT AND VULNERABILITY OF DROUGHT ON THE AGRICULTURE OF BANKURA DISTRICT IN WEST BENGAL, INDIA - Tanmoy Basu 40 30. AN ASSESSMENT OF ROAD TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND ITS MITIGATING PLANNING STRATEGIES: A CASE STUDY OF BEHALACHOWRASTA TRAFFIC INTERSECTION POINT - Dr. Indrajit Roy Chowdhury 41 31. A DISTRICT LEVEL ANALYSIS OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN URBAN WEST BENGAL - Samik Chakraborty 42 32. MONITORING OF FLOOD SITUATION BY APPLYING REMOTE SENSING TECHNIQUES - Dr. Asit Kumar Sarkar 43 33. AN ANALYSIS OF CHANGE IN AGRICULTURAL LAND-USE PATTERN OF KRISHNANAGAR SUBDIVISION, , WEST BENGAL - Dr. Anupriya Chatterjee & Susmita Mandal 44 34. A REMOTE SENSING & GIS BASED APPROACH IN IDENTIFYING CHANNEL CHANGES AND FLUVIO-GEOMORPHIC FEATURES IN MAYAPUR- AREA - Aparupa Sinha & Anupam Das 45 35. ECOTOURISM AND ITS DIMENSIONS OF IMPACT IN CHILKA, ODISHA, INDIA - Sanat Kumar Purkait & Soumyajit Halder 46 36. URBAN CONDITIONS AND LIVEABILITY STATUS ANALYSIS IN , PURBA MEDINIPUR, WEST BENGAL - Balai Adhikary & Sunanda Bera 47 37. RISK AND VULNERABILITY MANAGEMENT OF FLOOD BY USING REMOTE SENSING AND GIS TECHNOLOGY - Bubai Ghosh. Shibu Das & SuranjanMajumder 48 38. THE EMERGING ISSUE OF FOREST DEGRADATION IN DISTRICT - Mau Manna 48 39. THE SPATIO-TEMPORAL VARIATIONS AND APPLICATION OF GIS ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY OF NADIA DISTRICT IN WEST BENGAL - Indrajit Dutta 49 40. IDENTIFICATION OF AREAS VULNERABLE TO WATER LOGGING IN PAGLA RIVER BASIN, EASTERN INDIA USING GIS-BASED WEIGHTED LINEAR COMBINATION METHOD: A MULTI-CRITERIA DECISION APPROACH - Krishanu Datta & Krishnendu Gupta 50 41. OBSERVING THE FORMATION OF PURBASTHALI OXBOW LAKE FROM RIVER BHAGIRATHI-HUGLI, BURDWAN DISTRICT WEST BENGAL - Debabrata Das 51 42. SUSTAINABLE WETLAND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: A CASE STUDY OF BARITI , NORTH TWENTY FOUR PARGANAS, WEST BENGAL - Madhumita Basu 52 43. ANALYSIS OF THE PRODUCTIVITY AND CONCENTRATION OF MANGO CULTIVATION IN THE SELECTED C. D. BLOCKS OF MALDA DISTRICT, WEST BENGAL, INDIA - Abhijit Paul 53 44. ASSESSING THE SOCIO-ECONOMICAL CONDITION AND INFRASTRUCTURAL FACILITY OF SLUM DWELLERS: A CASE STUDY ON MUNICIPALITY, NADIA DISTRICT, WEST BENGAL - Milan Ghosh 54 45. GIS BASED SURFACE TERRAIN ANALYSIS: A STUDY OF UPPER PINDAR RIVER BASIN, UTTARAKHAND, INDIA - Senjuti Nandy 54 46. RIVER EROSION AND CHANGING COURSE OF RIVER SAPTAMUKHI AND MURIGANGANA OF ISLANAD - SubhamitaDhara & Dr.BirajKantiMondal 55 47. AN APPRAISAL OF THE INDUSTRIAL WORKERS IN MUNICIPAL CORPORATION - Smritilekha Bhattacharya 56 48. MICRO LEVEL STUDY ON IMPACT ANALYSIS OF MGNREGA TO UPLIFT THE RURAL SECTOR OF - Rima Das 57 49. VULNERABILITY STATUS OF AND PROBABLE ALTERNATIVES - Sajal Ghosh & Dr. Biraj Kanti Mondal 58 50. BANK EROSION OF RIVER TORSA IN JAIGAON, DISTRICT, WEST BENGAL - Pabitra Halder 59 51. WETLAND CRISIS OF EASTERN KOLKATA AND ITS IMPACT ON OUR ENVIRONMENT - Payel Ghosh 60 52. CHANGING PATTERN OF RURAL URBAN MIGRATION: AN ANALYSIS OF INTER STATE MIGRATION FROM PURVANCHAL TO INDUSTRIAL PART OF WEST BENGAL - Rajesh Das & Dr. Snehamanju Basu 61 53. IDENTIFICATION OF DEGRADED VEGETATION COVER IN NORTH KOLKATA - Ria Das 62 54. IMPLICATION OF GIS IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY OF SLUM OF CHETLA, KOLKATA - Tinni Dutta 63 55. CAUSES AND ADVERSE EFFECTS OF ARSENIC CONTAMINATION IN SELECTED DISTRICTS OF WEST BENGAL AND ITS SUGGESTIVE MEASURES - Bapan Biswas & Somnath Mondal 64 56. DYNAMICS OF PERI-URBAN AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND FARMERS’ ADAPTIVE BEHAVIOUR IN KOLKATA METROPOLITAN AREA - Shrabana Mazumder 65 57. DRINKING WATER FACILITY IN KALYANI MUNICIPALITY AND ITS SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT: A STUDY INURBAN GEOGRAPHY - Pijus Kanti Ghosh 65 58. RIVER BANK EROSION IMPLICATION ON LANDUSE CHANGE AND MANAGEMENT THE PROBLEM% A CASE STUDY OF CHARJIRAT - Puja Ghosh 66 59. STATUS OF GENDER BASED WORKFORCE IN DIFFERENT BLOCKS OF HOOGHLY DISTRICT - Sulata Hembrem 67 60. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT WITH THE APPLICATION OF GIS - Pratishruti Dey 68 61. MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY TRIBAL POPULATION OF SOUTH 24 PARGANAS, WEST BENGAL, INDIA-AN ETHNO BOTANICAL SURVEY - Ranajit Sardar 69 62. ASSESSMENT OF INTER-WARD DISPARITIES OF URBAN FACILITIES, SERVICES, AND SANITATION AND ITS ADVERSE IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT: A CASE STUDY AT KALYANI MUNICIPALITY, NADIA, WEST BENGAL - Dona Pramanick & Ankita Dutta 70 63. SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT BY POTENTIAL MICROBIAL STRAIN - Sankar Narayan Sinha 71 64. RISK ZONE MAPPING OF HIV BRIDGE POPULATION IN MURSHIDABAD AND ITS MANAGEMENT IN GIS DOMAIN - Subrata Biswas & Tania Biswas 72 65. SOME ASPECTS OF URBAN HAZARDS IN CLIMATE CHANGE SCENARIO IN AND AROUND TOWN - Sabyasachi Das 73 66. WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION OF HAORA DISTRICT: AN APPRAISAL - Rajib Patra 74 SCHOOL OF SCIENCES NETAJI SUBHAS OPEN UNIVERSITY

MESSAGE FROM VICE CHANCELLOR

Ii is a matter of great pleasure to welcome you all to this one day UGC-DEB sponsored National Seminar on "Environmental Management with the Application of GIS and Geoinformatics” organized by the School of Sciences, Netaji Subhas Open University. The School of Sciences of NSOU frequently organizes seminars, workshops and memorial lectures apart from its day to day activities. The present venture of the School is our humble attmpt to understand the multifarious aspects of environmental management in today's scenario. GIS and geoinformatics are the key in evaluate, mapping and manage the diverse burning issues of environment through a scientific assessment. Different facets of environmental management are yet to be identified for which more interactions among the scientific community are needed to create awareness of various environmental concerns world-wide. In this connection, I would like to convey my sincere gratitude thanks to the invited esteemed speakers and the participants from different corners of the country for their valued contributions. It is in fact their whole-hearted participation that will make the seminar successful. We acknowledge the grants received from the UGC-DEB for which this National Seminar could be arranged. It is my pleasure to express my special thanks to Professor Kajal De, Director, School of Sciences for her continuous effort to make the seminar a success. I congratulate Dr. Biraj Kanti Mondal. Organizing Secretary of the National Seminar for his enthusiasm and shouldering the responsibility along with all the members of Organizing Committee.

1st September, 2017

Subha S. Sarkar VC, NSOU

[ 7 ] SCHOOL OF SCIENCES NETAJI SUBHAS OPEN UNIVERSITY

Dear Participants and friends, MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR, SCHOOL OF SCIENCES The School of Sciences of Netaji Suhbas Open University, right from its inception in the year 2000, has emerged at a very active and dynamic organ of the University in all in its spheres of academic and related administrative activities. The School of Sciences Dear Participants and friends, portray a picture where the faculties, the students and the staffs, within the preriphery The School of Sciences of Netaji Suhbas Open University, right from its inception in the of NSOU, makes a well-knit family, a family that is exuberant, effervescent and at the year 2000, has emerged at a very active and dynamic organ of the University in all in its same time whole-heartedly devoted to their purview of activity. Besides trying to use spheres of academic and related administrative activities. The School of Sciences the modern technologies to innovate the teaching-learning process of distance learning, the School of Science regularly organizes seminars, workshops on the portrays a picture where the faculties, the students and the staffs, within the periphery themes relevant to the present society and especially to the environment for example, of NSOU, makes a well-knit family, a family that is exuberant, effervescent and at the arsenic pollution, global warming, hazards & their mitigation etc. same time whole-heartedly devoted to their purview of activity. Besides trying to use Environmental management is a burning issue of the day, because there exists a the modern technologies to innovate the teaching-learning process of distance conflict between nature and human civilization that is posing a constant threat on the learning, the School of Science regularly organizes seminars, workshops on the environment. Conservation and management of environmental resources for the themes relevant to the present society and especially to the environment for example, development include atmospheric protection, combating deforestation, protecting arsenic pollution, global warming, hazards & their mitigation etc. fragile environments, conservation of biological diversity, control of pollution, the management of biotechnology, radioactive wastes etc. As it is known that Environmental management is a burning issue of the day, because there exists a Geoinformatics, which is a combination of disciplines, like Remote Sensing (RS), conflict between nature and human civilization that is posing a constant threat on the Geographic Information System (GIS) and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), environment. Conservation and management of environmental resources for the provides us an easy way to monitor the environmental condition in global perspective development include atmospheric protection, combating deforestation, protecting as well as in the local scenario. This interrelation provided us with the motivation to fragile environments, conservation of biological diversity, control of pollution, the organize a One Day National Seminar on ‘Environmental Management with the management of biotechnology, radioactive wastes etc. As it is known that Application of GIS and Geoinformatics’ sponsored by University Grants Commission- Geoinformatics, which is a combination of disciplines, like Remote Sensing (RS), Distance Education Bureau on 9th September, 2017 at the seminar room of the Geographic Information System (GIS) and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), University. We are indebted to the University authority for the support and provides us an easy way to monitor the environmental condition in global perspective encouragement received for this endeavor. I am sure that this occasion would provide as well as in the local scenario. This interrelation provided us with the motivation to good opportunity of interaction for the scientific community working in the field to come organize a One Day National Seminar on ‘Environmental Management with the out with some important deliberations, which will become guiding force for future Application of GIS and Geoinformatics’ sponsored by University Grants research and teaching programmes. I extend my warm greetings and welcome to the Commission-Distance Education Bureau on 9th September, 2017 at the seminar room esteemed delegates, participants and guests. of the University. We are indebted to the University authority for the support and Prof. Kajal De encouragement received for this endeavor. Director, School of Sciences I am sure that this occasion would provide good opportunity of interaction for the scientific community working in the field to come out with some important deliberations, which will become guiding force for future research and teaching programmes. I extend my warm greetings and welcome to the esteemed delegates, participants and guests.

Prof. Kajal De

[ 8 ] SCHOOL OF SCIENCES NETAJI SUBHAS OPEN UNIVERSITY

MESSAGE FROM THE ORGANIZING SECRETARY

Dear Delegates and Participants, It is a grand honour for me to welcome you all at this UGC-DEB sponsored one day National Seminar on “Environmental Management with the Application of GIS and Geoinformatics” organised by the School of Sciences, Netaji Subhas Open University. Environment and the subsequent concerns regarding it, is a burning issue that is drawing attention globally. There are various issues of environment that act as burden and create stress to human being and those can be sorted out with the help of technological inputs. GIS and Geoinformatics is the way to demarcate the problems. The endeavour of the seminar is to create a platform for interaction of eminent academicians, scientists, students and researchers with the participants to broaden their horizon of awareness regarding environmental issues. Hope this will help everybody present here to think in a better way to promote environmental and management and make our earth more beautiful to live healthier life. GIS and Geoinformatics deal with the structure and nature of spatial information and also address the problems related to environment as well as other geo sciences. This modern and improved technique can be applied to Natural Hazards and Disaster Management, Environmental Mapping and Monitoring, Integrated Coastal Management, Natural Resources Management etc. Geoinformatics is broadly applied in the Environmental Modelling and Analysis, Agriculture, Aviation and Maritime Transport, Meteorology and climate change, Business location Planning, Local and National Gazetteer Management, Ocean and Atmosphere Modelling, Transport Network Planning and Management had been a mandatory and integral part of human life in the present day contexts. It is indeed a matter of immense pleasure for us to present before you this compilation of the volume of abstracts of the papers to be contributed at the seminar and published

[ 9 ] SCHOOL OF SCIENCES NETAJI SUBHAS OPEN UNIVERSITY

in the prestigious Seminar Abstract Volume. In this one day seminar, different issues of environmental along with its management options with the input of GIS and Geoinformatics will be discussed to come to certain possible conclusions. Finally, I would like to extend my warm welcome to our jnvited speakers, distinguished panellist, the chairpersons of different technical sessions, delegates and participants of different parts of the country. With the excellent guidance, I am confident enough that the technical sessions will produce productive and insightful discussions and obviously it will aware us much more to protect our beautiful environment. I sincerely express my gratitude to our Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of the University for his constant encouragement, enthusiasm and support. I am very much thankful to the Director, School of Sciences for her constant support, wholeheartedness and extended help. I would like to extend my thanks to the University officials, academic personalities, faculty members, staff members of NSOU, whose valuable suggestions and efforts helped us to make this volume of abstract to be presented in the National Seminar.

1st September, 2017

Dr. Biraj Kanti Mondal Assistant Professor of Geography Organizing Secretary

[ 10 ] SCHOOL OF SCIENCES NETAJI SUBHAS OPEN UNIVERSITY

Keynote Address: ROLE OF GEOINFORMATICS IN CHANGING CONCEPT OF LAND DEGRADATION ASSESSMENT Dr. Amal Kar Formerly at Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur Email: [email protected]

Land degradation, which is defined as “persistent reduction or loss of the biological or economic productivity and complexity of rainfed cropland, irrigated cropland, or range, pasture, forest and woodlands, resulting from land uses or from a process or combination of processes arising from human activities” (UNEP, 2016), is now a major concern for countries like ours, where agriculture is a dominant economic activity. Conventionally land degradation assessment and mapping involved identification from maps and images of a set of land features that best described a type of degradation, followed by a set of routines to describe the spatial pattern of degradation and suspected causes. The system involved subjectivity. Assessment accuracy depended much on individual’s perception, knowledge and experience, and hence had always an element of doubt. Control measures based on such data often became controversial, and a ground for dispute between different stakeholders. There is now a growing feeling among researchers that, in order to construct the different pathways leading to land degradation, it is necessary to critically examine the causes and effects of degradation under a system that accommodates and analyses all the variables in the chain from the factors that trigger processes of degradation to the society’s response to the state of degradation. In other words, modelling degradation over space and time must be carried out with quantified datasets for effective policy interventions. This realization led to the construction of a conceptual model, consisting of Driving force (D), Pressure (P), State (S), Impact (I) and Response (R). Indicators, benchmarks, assessment, monitoring and early warning are the integral parts of such a holistic approach to land degradation processes. Implementation of the DPSIR model is, however, not an easy task, given the complex relationships between the indicators involved and the quantitative nature of the input data needed to implement the model. Recent advances in digital remote sensing and GIS have immensely helped in quantification of the biophysical datasets at high-resolution pixel levels, and to co-evaluate the huge data for modelling and time-series analysis. Yet, quantification of the actual degradation and linking of the biophysical data with the socio-economic data at tolerably good [ 11 ] pixel level are still problematic. Most studies therefore end up with mapping of ‘vulnerability’ and ‘risk’ rather than the actual degradation, or provide low-resolution regional or global scenarios. The best example of the latter is an implementation in WebGIS called the Global LAnd Degradation Information System (GLADIS), which explores the links between population pressure, poverty, land degradation, etc., through derivation of indices on ecosystem service status, land degradation, biophysical degradation and land degradation impact. Although GLADIS results (hosted in FAO website) have shown a new pathway to linking the biophysical and socio-economic factors, combining aspects of biomass, soil health, water resources, biodiversity, economic production and the socio-cultural milieu through indices, its results are too coarse for any action or policy strategy. Earlier, we attempted a DPSIR implementation in a small area within Thar Desert, which is discussed. We conclude that land degradation problem is contextual and highly dependent on local peculiarities, and that some indices are still to be developed for quick assessment of land quality, land and water uses, socio-economic variables, etc., at local scales and for evaluation over a period of time so that the actual problems faced by stakeholders could be addressed effectively.

[ 12 ] Address by Chief Guest: THE INDIAN SUNDARBAN: ISSUES AND CHALLENGES IN A WARMING WORLD

Sunando Bandyopadhay, Nabendu Sekhar Kar, Karabi Das Department of Geography, University of Calcutta, Kolkata 700019 Email: [email protected]

IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) suggested a sea level rise rate of 8–16 mm yr–1 by the turn of this century according to one of its future scenarios. This would have dire consequences in cyclone-prone regions like the Indian Sundarban (6,261 km2) where the elevation of some 51 reclaimed and agrarian tidal islands in 19 CD blocks (1,749 km2) are lower than the spring tide levels. Flood is usually considered beneficial for crops as it deposits fertile silts, but in Sundarban it precipitates salt as well and severely degrades farmlands. As shown by the relatively low-magnitude Aila event of 2009 (highest sustained wind speed: 110 km h–1), cyclone landfalls, coincided with high tides can easily breach or overtop marginal embankments and waterlog vast areas of the Sundarban islands for weeks.

The 62-year record of sea level change data of , close to Sundarban, denotes a sea level rise of 3.97±0.34 mm yr–1. This agrees closely with the 23.5-yr record of sea level change off the Sundarban from satellite altimetry, indicating a rise at 3.90±0.46 mm yr–1 against a global mean of 3.28±0.31 mm yr–1. Although erosion of the estuary margins and seaface—up to 40 m yr–1—is continuing for many decades in the Indian Sundarban, interior channels are getting silted up. These changes can be ascribed to sediment reworking in a flood- tide dominated environment that is greatly intervened by reclamation efforts, initiated in 1770.

The 93-yr climatological record in the Sundarban region () indicates a rise in minimum summer (Kharif: Mar–Oct) and winter (Boro: Nov–Feb) temperatures by 0.3 °C and 1.9 °C respectively, besides a negligible decrease in Kharif rainfall. Up till now, none of these changes were critical, with no apparent influence on the yields of paddy. At the end of 1993- 94–2012-13 period, the average yield of Aman paddy reached 2,391 kg ha–1 in the 19 Sundarban blocks, increasing at the rate of 34.6±9.7 kg ha–1 yr–1.

For the north Indian ocean region, AR5 estimated that the frequency of tropical cyclones are likely to remain unchanged with rains getting more extreme near the centres of the storms. If the cyclone landfalls in the Indian Sundarban since 1891 are divided into 25-year spans, records show that incidents of cyclones have actually reduced during the recent decades. Operation of natural cycles in landfall frequency and harming potential of tropical cyclones is not uncommon. This, coupled with global warming-induced intensification of the storms,

[ 13 ] suggests that the probability of cyclone landfalls and consequent damages are likely to increase in the Sundarban even if their global frequency remains unchanged.

Despite the adversities, population pressure of the Indian Sundarban increased four-fold between 1951 and 2011: from 283 to 1,055 persons km–2. Set to reach 1,652 persons km–2 in 2051, the safety and sustenance of this overwhelmingly agrarian population sets a major challenge before the planners.

Research during the past two decades has brought out certain physical trends that can be utilised to formulate a holistic plan that would address the key issues of the Indian Sundarban. For example, it is reported that in the forested areas of Sundarban, vertical accretion rate from tidal inundation is ~10 mm yr–1, which can increase to 180 mm yr–1 in sediment-starved reclaimed regions, if exposed to tidal spill. This opens up the possibility of elevation recovery in the reclaimed Sundarban through phased removal of embankments. Future planning for the region must accept the transformations that are brought into the system by the humans and strike a balance between the requirements of the nature and the needs of its inhabitants.

Keywords: climate change, sea level rise, coastal hazards, coastal management

[ 14 ] Address by Guest of Honour: GEOINFORMATICS: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Dr. Parthasarathi Chakrabarti Chief Scientist (Retd.), Deptt. of Science & Technology, Govt. of West Bengal and Former Geologist, Geological Survey of India Email: [email protected]

Space Information Technology: Combination of Remote Sensing and Global Navigational Satellite System (GNSS). Both aerial photographs and satellite images are to be considered as the space information – providing ‘factual and functional’ data regarding earth’s surface features (e.g. geomorphophology, soil, geology and cultural aspects) – the ‘geoinformation’. RS data enhance creative sensibility through visualization/‘visual thinking’ towards conceptualization and analytical approaches for identifying ‘geoinformation’ in subject orientation / user orientation e.g. land use / land cover analysis reflects on hydrogeomorphological condition /land degradation vis-à-vis environmental disturbances. On the other hand, GNSS is an important geomatics tool with numerous applications in various fields for precise positioning viz. Geodetic, Geophysical, Military and Societal aspects.

Geoinformatics / Spatial Information Technologymay be considered as the combination of RS and GNSS (the space information technology) and GIS (Geographical Information System) along with age old ground survey – complementary to each other for data acquisition, transformation, management and dissemination – towards decision making and implementation.

How to define GIS: Geographic Information System / Geographic Information Science or Geographic Information Studies. GI System is used as decision support tool for solving problems of various kinds from utility aspects to natural resources management.GI Science deals with theory and concepts behind GIS e.g. Classical models for database organization, software functions/operations etc. GI Studies include geographic information in societal context e.g. ‘locale specific’ information regarding development related projects.

GIS is with two distinct disciplines:

lComputer Science particularly for – data bases, computational geometry and image processing as well as pattern recognition.

lInformation Science includes disciplines concerned with studying in earth and atmosphere, either in physical or human aspects.

[ 15 ] GIS development step by step: Enterprise GISàOpen GIS Consortium àWeb GIS/ Spatial Web Service.

In environmental management/ biodiversity conservation space based inputs supported with GIS have immensely contributed towards sustainable management of environmental resources required for maintain ecological balance, supporting the livelihood of dependent communities and for national development.

This paper speaks in details with case history examples to highlight the applications of Geoinformatics in Environmental Management towards societal development. In this regard, universities/ academic and research institutions may play subjective role for capacity building aiming towards inter-regional activities through institutional strengthening and targeted research.

[ 16 ] Invited Lectures: ADJUSTMENT OF THE RIVER GANGA TO QUASI-NATURAL PROCESSES AND BANK EROSION PROBLEM INDUCED LAND USE DYNAMICITY IN THE UPSTREAM OF FARAKKA BARRIAGE, WEST BENGAL

Sujit Mandal Professor and Head, Department of Geography University of Gour Banga, Malda, West Bengal Email: [email protected]

Every geomorphic processes proceed towards an equilibrium state through process response system. In a river basin, all the variables are interlinked with each other. Any sorts of change of any variable may lead to dramatic changes to other variables for maintaining system response. Since very long, human intervention along the river course in the name of development has invited major hydro-geomorphological changes and forced to adjust the river channel to achieve new geomorphic equilibrium conditions. The construction of Farakka Barriage has constricted the normal flow of the river Ganga and helped in clogging of huge amount of sediments derived from the upstream and developing various types of river bed char lands. Such development of the chars change the flow direction, flow velocity and wetted width of the river and consequently invite the river bank shifting as well as severe river bank erosion in Diara region. The adjustment of the Ganga has been a longterm phenomenon that has constantly shaped and reshaped the territorial history of Diara region of Malda district by changing hydro-geomorphological processes. River bank erosion process is a combination of sub-aerial process, fluvial entrainment and mass wasting. To assess the river bank erosion process shear stress properties of the soil, grain size distribution of the soil (sorting co- efficient, co-efficient of gradation and co-efficient of variation) width and depth of the flow path, hydraulic radius, flow direction, and location of the channel thalweg were studied carefully. The stability of the river bank was assessed with the help of bank erosion hazard index value (BEHI). The changing course of the river channel, land loss and linear shifting of the bank line were estimated using GIS and incorporating satellite images o f Landsat TM 5, Landsat MSS 1 and Landsat ETM 7. The massive river bank erosion and changing socio-economic activities of the erosion victims caused a large scale conversion of land use character in and KaliachakDiara of Malda district. Around 30 mouzas are being affected due to river bank shifting and land loss as well as frequent changing land use character. It is inferred that river bank erosion process which is the outcome of quasi-natural process operating between and Farakka has led to serious and adverse consequences in the physical and biological function of the river. Such situation ensured the river Ganga to adjust herself in changing hydro-geomorphological processes. Key words: River channel adjustment, bank stability, land loss, land use conversion, bank line shifting, RS & GIS [ 17 ] COMPUTATIONAL TECHNIQUES IN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT – A GEOSPATIAL APPROACH

A.R. Ghosh*, Kajori Parial and Debananda Biswas Department of Higher Education, Science and Technology and Biotechnology, GoWB *E-mail for correspondence: [email protected]

Occurrences of various natural and human induced disasters are on rise lately. This may be attributed to the overexploitation of natural resources for facilitating access to basic needs and comfort to the humankind. However, as a counter current to the trend of exhaustive exploitation of natural resources, there is an increasing awareness of the deteriorating situation. To maintain a healthy balance between progress and exploitation, especially in terms of resource utilization, various management plans and policies are being designed and adopted. In the last few decades, geospatial technology is evolving fast as an important tool for environmental management and decision making. In recent times, the development in the domain of geospatial technologies is occurring at an unprecedented pace in terms of both quality and quantity. Development in electronics and computational fields are helping in seamless storing, processing and analysis of the data acquired. Working in tandem, all these techniques have made assessment, monitoring and prediction of the environmental problems faster and cost effective to a large extent. The easy access to faster networks further enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of this approach. Like other domains, environmental scientists, researchers and planners are employing and utilizing these advancements towards achieving futuristic environmental managementplans and procedures. In the present paper, emphasis is given to the geospatial approach towards environmental management using various computational techniques. Remote sensing satellites deployed in the earth’s atmosphere are myriad. Different satellites, with specific services, are continuously acquiring various kinds of remote sensing data ranging from optical, thermal, hyperspectral, radar, meteorological etc. These data are further processed and analyzed by the researchers to identify, address, and solve different issues. The paper discusses briefly the different types of satellite data, the platforms/servers hosting them, some of the applications and case studies making use of those data to address different environmental problems. The paper also attempts to update the audience about different databases, resources, data handling and utilization procedures, etc. which might be helpful for the scientific community.

[ 18 ] THE USE OF VERY HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGER AND TERRAIN DATASETS FOR MICRO-LEVEL STRUCTURAL AND GEOMORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

Priyank Pravin Patel Assistant Professor, Dept. of Geography, Presidency University, Kolkata Email: [email protected]

The advancement in sensor technology has brought forth the availability of very high resolution images and terrain datasets. These images, of sub-meter resolution can be used accurately for micro-level terrain and geomorphic analysis of a particular area. The extensive lateritic badland surface near Garhbeta in Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal has recently been designated as an Indian geomorphosite. However, its increasing attractiveness to tourists has induced marked alterations, through incremental changes in slope morphology, alterations of pedological attributes and influenced gully-head expansion. Mapping of the hiking trails and gully field has been done from a 2 metre Digital Terrain Model, corroborated through a Total Station survey. Successive imageries from Worldview 1-2-3, QuickBird-2 and GeoEye-1 satellites, from 2003 to 2016, are used to map trail development over time, ratified through an along-trail GPS survey along with vegetation cover changes over the same time period. The use of Digital Elevation Models (DEM) derived topographic information are constricted by the DEM resolution, with freely available DEMs being too coarse to represent finer topographic attributes, while the view obtained is essentially a top- down one. An alternative approach has been the implementation of the Structure-from- Motion (SfM) Photogrammetric techniques from a ground perspective. The photographs taken all around the target morphological feature are aligned and meshed to form a dense point cloud, representing the surficial characteristics of the target feature. Georeferencing of this point cloud allows extraction of accurate measurements, with final surface rendering and textural overlays done to realistically represent the target morphological feature. This allows measurement of morphological, lithological and structural components. The SfM technique has been used for capturing morphological information from a number of micro- topographical elements in the gullied lateritic tract of Garbeta in the Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal and also from the exposed structural elements of an extensive rock outcrop on the banks of the River Subarnarekha at Jamsola in Purbi Singhbhum district of Jharkhand. The generated three dimensional digital models of the above terrain components may also be transformed into actual physical ones through a 3-D printing process, for a more interactive teaching-learning process in the classroom.

Keywords: SfM, 3-D printing, micro-geomorphology, terrain evaluation, DEM, very high resolution images

[ 19 ] APPLICATION OF GEO-SPATIAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR DRYLAND ISSUES

Arnab Kundu Centre for Geospatial Technologies, Faculty of Engineering and Technology Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India Email: [email protected]

Satellite-based sensors acquire massive amount of earth observation data every day and its utility is growing significantly. Owing to its advantages in providing dynamic, multi- temporal or time series land cover information remote sensing has been widely applied in dryland researches including identifying land use changes and land degradation since the 1970s. In this study remote sensing based techniques have been used for two different types of dryland issues i. e, desertification and drought. Desertification is one of the most serious current environmental challenges in the context of global change. Combating desertification has become the top priority for government of India as well as in several countries of the world. Desertification and land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas are generally resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities. It is considered as one of the major slow hazard in western part of India, particularly in Rajasthan state. Remote sensing is a widely accepted method for monitoring desertification over a large area because of its capability of collecting data frequently, synoptically and objectively. On the other hand, drought is a climatic extreme that often spread across large spatio-temporal scales. Usually, droughts are categorized into four major classes: meteorological, agricultural, hydrological and socio-economical. The drought event is usually analyzed by using different indices, among them satellite based vegetation indices have become popular in last couple of decades. In the present study, drought risk assessment has been assessed through geospatial tools. The arid and semi-arid part of Rajasthan constantly facing drought stress since the last few decades and this area has been affected by poor crop productivity, water scarcity and migration of people for employment. The results of the study indicate a good conformity between the remote sensing based analysis and real scenario over the region.

Keywords: Desertification, drought, geo-spatial tool, vegetation indices.

[ 20 ] IMPERVIOUS SURFACE GROWTH AND ITS INTERRELATIONSHIP WITH URBAN HEAT ISLAND: A GEOSPATIAL APPROACH

Dipanwita Dutta Department of Remote Sensing and GIS, Vidyasagar University, Email:[email protected] A. Rahman Faculty of Natural Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi & S. K. Paul Department of Architecture & Regional Planning, IIT,

Considering its impacts on urban micro-climate and holistic environment, urban impervious land and its dynamics has been a matter of concern among the urban planners as well as researchers. The present study aims to identify the interrelationship between impervious surface growth and urban heat island in Delhi NCT and its peri-urban areas. The Landsat Multispectral Scanner (MSS), Thematic Mapper (TM) and Enhanced Thematic Mapper (8) respectively of three different periods, 1977, 2003 and 2014 were used for the study. The fractional images of 1977, 2003 and 2014 were classified according to their fractional value. In order to overcome the problem of abundance of mixed pixel in urban areas, linear spectral unmixing technique has been adopted for the present study. A three endmember based V-I-S model was applied in the multi-temporal Landsat images to estimate the growth of impervious surface. In conjunction with the unmixing model, land surface temperature of the area was estimated to assess the diurnal thermal behaviour of various urban features. The study reveals good agreement between impervious surface fraction and NDVI (r2 = 0.916). Significant positive correlation between ISF and LST (r2 = 0.654) proves the impact of urban expansion on micro-climate of the city. It is also noteworthy that LST-NDVI interrelationship was strongly negative (r2 = 0.758) which indicates the influence of vegetated cover in controlling urban heat island phenomenon. Beside this, built-up density and population density of the area also found coherent with the abundance of ISF proving the robustness and accuracy of the technique in identifying the growth of impervious surface in urban area.

Keywords: Impervious Surface Fraction, LST, Landsat, Linear Spectral Unmixing, NDVI

[ 21 ] STUDY TO UNDERSTAND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SKY VIEW FACTOR, LAND SURFACE TEMPERATURE AND ITS IMPORTANCE IN LOCAL CLIMATE ZONE CLASSIFICATION- CASE STUDY OF KOLKATA

Dr. Debashish Das Associate Professor, Department of Architecture, Jadavpur University, Kolkata Email: [email protected] & Santanu Bajani Research Scholar, Jadavpur University, Kolkata

Urbanization is a dynamic process and one of the main anthropogenic factors of climate change. The change in the urban built form and surface cover due to rapid urbanization has led to various urban issues and Urban heat island (UHI) is one of the outcomes of such process. Remote sensing, although challenged by the spatial and spectral heterogeneity of urban environments (Jensen and Cowen 1999; Herold et al. 2004) seems to be an appropriate source of urban data to support such studies (Donnay et al. 2001). Reduced sky-view factor, replacement of soil cover by concrete/asphalt surfaces, and emission of a large amount of waste heat from transportation, commercial, residential and industrial sectors all form conditions favorable to the rise in temperatures over the urban areas as compared to surrounding rural areas. (P. Pandey et al. / Science of the Total Environment 414 (2012) 494–507).SVF is calculated on selected locations by using SVF Mapping Tool V1.1 developed by Urban Climate Research Group, University of Szeged and Sky View Factor Calculator software developed by Fredrik Lindberg and BjçrnHolmer of University of Gothenburg. The paper also analyses the Land Surface Temperature (LST) which is radiative temperature, and indirect measurement of thermal energy of any object on land surface as a function of radiance which is quantified by Stefan-Boltzmann law and Planck s principle. The impact of sky view factor and Land surface temperature on microclimate is analysed by creating Local Climate Zones based on urban built form and surface cover properties. The Local Climate Zone studies have been conducted as fundamental research to understand urban weather phenomena. Local Climate Zones of Kolkata is identified on the basis of the method provided by WUDAPT (World Urban Database and Access Portal Tools) project.This paper aims to analyse the relationship between Sky View Factor and Land Surface Temperature and its impact on Local Climate Zones in order to investigate the spatial variations of urban heat islands in Kolkata Municipal Corporation area.

Keywords: Urbanization, Sky View Factor, Land Surface Temperature, Local Climate Zone classification

[ 22 ] GEOSPATIAL ASSESSMENT OF SHIFTING LAND SURFACE TEMPERATURE (LST) AND RELATION TO URBAN LAND USE/LAND COVER IN KALYANI MUNICIPAL AREA,NADIA, WEST BENGAL

Mahua Bardhan Assistant Professor, Dept. of Geography, Netaji Satabarshiki Mahavidyalaya, 24 Pgs (N) Email: [email protected]

Remote sensing is useful for understanding the spatio-temporal land cover change in relation to the basic physical properties of the surface radiance and emissivity data. Land Surface Temperature (LST) is used to determine the temperature distribution and change in local or global scale.

This study employs the use of geo-spatial techniques with survey to identify various transformations in land use/land cover and their corresponding land surface temperature (LST) between a 20-year (1990-2010) time interval in Kalyani, West Bengal, a post independence planned township which is spread over about 31 sq. km. Area with 4 blocks..The objective of this study is to identify the shifting pattern of LST and its’ reason. Landsat TM and ETM+ images (thermal bands) have been used to estimate LST for the years 1990 and 2010 and ward-wise spatio-temporal variations have been identified through Landsat calibration and LST extraction in GIS software. It is revealed that changing pattern of LST is closely correlated to the changing green cover, water body and built up pattern (NDVI and NDBI) and intra urban variation is also reflected in core and periphery wards. In addition to the increasing impervious built-up surface the vertical extension of buildings due to urban densification within the town contributes to increase of LST in the recent years.

Keywords: LST, planned township, built up, vertical extension, densification

[ 23 ] GEOMORPHIC DIVERSITY AND LANDSLIDE SUSCEPTIBILITY IN THE BALASON RIVER BASIN, DARJEELING HIMALAYA

Subrata Mondal Research Scholar, Department of Geography, University of Gour Banga, West Bengal Email: [email protected] & Sujit Mandal Professor & HoD., Department of Geography, University of Gour Banga, West Bengal Email: [email protected]

Basin morphometry is an important tool to assess the relief and drainage characteristics of a basin. The present chapter attempts to assess the role of basin morphometric parameters in slope instability using morphometric diversity (MD) model. Also try to find out the role of drainage parameters and relief parameters in slope failure using drainage diversity (DD) and relief diversity (RD) models respectively. For that total 14 morphometric parameters were considered. The DD model was prepared using drainage density (Dd), drainage frequency (Df ), bifurcation ratio (Rb), relative relief (Rr), drainage intensity (Din), drainage texture (Dt), junction frequency (Jf ), infiltration number (In) and ruggedness index (Ri) while the RD model was constructed using slope (S), Rr, dissection index (Di), elevation (E), Ri, Rb, relief ratio (Rra) and hypsometric integral/relative height (Hi). Lastly Dd, Df, Din, Di, Dt, Jf, In, Rb, Rr, Ri, E, S and Hi data layers were used for MD model. The relationship of each data layers with landslide susceptibility was judge using frequency ratio (FR) approach. Parameters like Dd, Df, Rr, Dt, Jf, In, Ri, Di, E, S, Rra and Hi were positively related with landslide potentiality while Rb and Din negatively correlated with slope failure. The principal component analysis (PCA) based weight assign to each data layers of each model which multiplied with unidirectional reclassified data layers for each model using weighted linear combination (WLC) approach to prepare landslide susceptibility maps. The receiver operating characteristics curve showed that, the landslides prediction accuracy of the DD, RD and MD models was 74.1%, 79.6% and 77.6% respectively. The FR plots of the aforesaid three models suggested that, the chance of landslide increases from very low to very high susceptibility zones.

[ 24 ] IMPLICATION OF GEOINFORMATICS AND GIS TO IDENTIFY THE CHANGE DETECTION OF EAST KOLKATA WETLANDS

Dr. Biraj Kanti Mondal Assistant Professor of Geography Netaji Subhas Open University Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Geoinformatics is the science and the technology dealing with the acquisition, storage, processing, production, presentation and dissemination of geoinformation which develops and uses different information to solve the problems of diverse environmental aspects. Wetland is recognised as one of the most productive ecosystem of the earth, from environmental as well as socio-economic point of view and it has immense importance to maintain the biodiversity and ecological balance of the biosphere by its uniqueness. But the irony lies in the fact that wetlands have not been given due importance that they deserve and they are being degraded due to lack of appreciation of their role. The wetland covered area of the globe has dropped by almost 6% in last 20 years. East Kolkata Wetlands (Ramsar Site) act as an absorber basin for huge amount of contaminants drained from the Kolkata Metropolitan City. This wetland, extended up to the Bidyadhari and confluence, is upshot frequently not only by the dynamics of Hugli, Bidyadhari and Matla River but also by the human encroachment. The degradation and transformation of wetlands is a slow poisoning risk made us think about its past history and hopes and doubts about its future. Reclamation of land for agriculture, aquaculture and urban expansion occur which threatened different sites of this wetlands. Furthermore, huge population pressure, rapid growth and their increasing economic demands, the wetlands area has been victimise by different ways as an aftermath. Therefore, an in depth study was attempt for the change detection analysis of the wetlands of East Kolkata and ten selected blocks of North and South 24 Parganas districts. Geoinformatics is the key solicitation technique to recognize the change detection and geospatial analysis of the present study area.

Key words: Wetland, change detection, geoinformatics

[ 25 ] GIS BASED MULTICRITERIA DECISION ANALYSIS FOR LAND RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AROUND THERMAL POWER PLANT

Subhas Adak Agronomist, Agricultural Training Centre & State Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute, Ramakrishna Mission, Narendrapur, Kolkata-700103 Email: [email protected]; [email protected] & Kalyan Adhikari Associate Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, NIT, Email: [email protected] & Koushik Brahmachari Professor, Department of Agronomy, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Nadia Email: [email protected]

Multiple climatic (rainfall, temperature, humidity) and land attributes (wetness, topography, soil characters) of thirteen soil profiles have been evaluated for determination of potentiality of land for the best alternative uses around the coal-burnt Kolaghat Thermal Power Plant, West Bengal, India. GIS technology associated with Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) technique has been used to manage the land resources for sustainability. All the criteria of optimum crop production have been given suitability weightage. Pair- wise comparison of suitability factors has been carried out assigning 1-9 from least suitable to highest suitable. Relative comparison matrix for climate (16.33), topography (20), wetness (9.40), soil physical properties (2.73) and soil fertility (2.51) has been estimated. Consistency index and Consistency Ratio for the Weighted Linear combination are 0.106519 and 0.09510637 which support the comparison of the factors. The composite suitability score have been grouped as 1-3, >3-6 and >6-9 with corresponding pixel value ranges. After summing the overlying maps together for each level of hierarchy, a spatial comparison has been then undertaken between the crop suitability classes (namely S3, S2 and S1) and the corresponding pixels (0-85, 86-170, and 171-255) of land suitability indices.

GIS model has evaluated that rice is moderately suitable (S2) in the nearby profilesP1, P2, P3,

P4, P5 and P6 with limitations of soil fertility and wetness. Wheat is limited suitable (S2) for growing in almost all the profiles, except P13. Maize, sesame, jute and f lowers are suitable

(S1) for potential production with minor constraints of soil fertility in the affected areas. P1 profile is moderately suitable (S2) for maize due to limitation of soil fertility. Vegetable crops also face barriers of climate and soil fertility within 4 km of KTPP though rest of the profile area is suitable (S1). Among these, no crop turned up permanently uncultivable (N).

[ 26 ] ACREAGE ANALYSIS OF BETELVINE CROP THROUGH BOROJ DETECTION FROM HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGERY AND INTERNAL ARCHITECTURAL LAYOUT IN TAMLUK SUBDIVISION, PURBA MEDINIPUR

Manas Hudait Research Scholar, Dept. of Geography, Presidency University, Kolkata Email: [email protected] & Priyank Pravin Patel Assistant Professor, Dept. of Geography, Presidency University, Kolkata Email: [email protected]

Betel leaf cultivation is one of the most important cash crops in India, particularly in Gangetic West Bengal. It is a distinctive agricultural practice, covering over 19400 hectares, with an annual production of 150.94 lakh motes (a single sheaf of ten thousand betel leaves), in the year 2013-2014, and providing a myriad of employment and livelihood opportunities throughout the year, directly or indirectly, partly or fully, through engagement in the cultivation, processing, handling, transportation and marketing of the crop. It grows best under the shaded, tropical forest ecological conditions receiving annual rainfall between 2250-4750 mm, and the relative humidity and temperature ranging from 40% - 80% and 15°C - 40°C, respectively. The most important centre of its production and marketing in the State, in terms of the quality as well as the quantity of the crop, is Tamluk Subdivision of Purba Medinipur district. Due its economic importance, there remains a persistent need to measure the actual areal extent under this crop, from year to year, for proper yield estimation. For its cultivation, a square or rectangular shaped hut-like structure or ‘Boroj’ is erected to provide shade during the growing stage. This structure is primarily of bamboo, jute sticks and straw. Within it, betelvines are planted in rows along with accompanying jute sticks, for supporting the creepers properly. Due to their typical structure, these boroj can be easily identified from high resolution satellite imagery, as available in Google Earth. This allows easier detection of the total acreage under betelvine cultivation and provides a more accurate estimation of the same. The boroj detected in this way, were then checked and validated against the actual GPS-based locations for the same, obtained through intensive field surveys. These boroj are found to be mainly located on relative higher surfaces, with sloping surfaces preferred to allow quick drainage and with a pond nearby, from where irrigation for the betelvine boroj would be possible. The side walls are strengthened with bamboo poles [ 27 ] and the tops with longitudinally divided bamboo poles, supported by the bamboo posts inside the boroj. Criss-cross supporting poles are used to build boroj strongly in order to withstand strong wind and storms, which is common in the study area. The walls of each boroj are covered with jute sticks, paddy straw and joon grass while the top of the boroj is usually covered with jute sticks.

SOIL EROSION RISK MAPPING BY INTEGRATING RUSLE MODEL WITH GIS TECHNIQUES: A CASE STUDY OF KARHA RIVER BASIN, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA

Amit Bera Research Scholar, Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur, West Bengal-711103 Email: [email protected]

Soil erosion is a serious environmental problem in Maharashtra state. The present study is carried out on Karha river basin in Maharashtra State, having an area of 1322.9 Sq.km. Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model, with Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) have been used to estimate the soil loss in the Karha river basin. Five essential parameters have been used to estimate soil loss amount in the study area. Those parameter are Runoff-rainfall erosivity factor (R), soil erodibility Factor (K), slope length and steepness (LS), cropping management factor (C), and support practice factor (P). All of these layers have been prepared in GIS and RS mapping platform (mainly ArcGIS 10.1). DEM (Digital Elevation Model) of 30 m spatial resolution was the main input primary data for estimation of LS factor, which was built based on ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) elevation data. LISS (Linear Imaging Self Scanner) III image has been used for estimation of C and P factor. The daily rainfall data of 7 rain gauge stations located in the Karha River Basin and its adjoining area were collected from Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), and used to predict the R factor. Predicted average annual soil loss of Karha river basin has been classified into six categories according to intensity level of soil loss. The outcome results would help to take suitable erosion control measures in the severely affected areas of Karha river basin.

[ 28 ] ASSESSMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE IN URBAN SLUMS OF KOLKATA: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Dr. Debasree Bhadra Assistant Professor of Geography, Lady Brabourne College, Kolkata Email: [email protected]

Though urbanization is an indicator of development, but it is also bitter fact that poverty is growing faster in urban areas than in rural areas. Being a complex socio- economic process closely connected with scientific technological revolution, urbanization exercises a growing influence on all aspects of society, reflecting the nature of economic and regional development. Around the world, one billion people live in urban slums, which are typically overcrowded, polluted and lackbasic services. One of the targets set by world leaders in 2000 was to improve significantly the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers by 2020. As per 2011 census, approximately 30% of total population of India is residing in urban areas and it is expected to reach 40% by the year 2050. India’s urban population is expected to increase from a little fewer than 350 million in 2011 to about 800 million by the middle of the 21st Century, an increase of an astonishing 500 million persons. At this point, urban India will account for more than half of the country’s population.This will be not only lead to just an economic transition but also willresult in the transformation of Indian society, its culture, its politics, and the country’s natural and built environment. At the same time, it will also place an enormous strain on existing urban centers and the many new ones that will come into existence. Though urbanization is an indicator of development, it also brings many socio-economic problems. One billion people live in urban slums, which are typically overcrowded, polluted and dangerous, and there is a lack of basic services such as clean water and sanitation leading to unhealthy living conditions and poor quality of life. In the present paper the author has made an attempt to determine the quality of life statistically taking six broad parameters like living conditions, economic conditions, literacy, health & sanitation, transport & communication and disaster awareness and their sub categoriesin the five selected slums of Kolkata city. In tune with the basic objective of the paper to assess the quality of life in the slums of Kolkata metropolitan area, composite score technique has been used and the slums have been grouped accordingly based on the levels of the quality of life. The paper also attempts to compare the condition of slum dwellers with the targets of UN MDG and India vision 2020 and suggest some measures of inclusive development and planning to improve quality of life in slums.

Keywords: Urbanization, Quality of Life, Poverty and Urban Slums

[ 29 ] IMPACTS OF STONE MINING ON ENVIRONMENT AND LOCAL LIVELIHOODS: A CASE STUDY OF MOHAMMAD BAZAR BLOCK, BIRBHUM

Firdousi Rahaman Siddika Research Scholar, Department of Geography, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan Email: [email protected] & Dr. Krishnendu Gupta Assistant Professor, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan Email:[email protected]

Mining aggregate can lead to serious environmental impacts on local livelihoods. Societal gravities can exacerbate the environmental impacts of aggregate development. In this regard stone mining at the Mohammad bazar block area provides an inexpensive source of materials for the construction industry while providing income to operators. However, these activities come at a cost to the lateritic environment and pose a threat to the natural environment and local livelihoods. This paper identified the various types of stone mining activities, the level at which they are undertaken and covers the changes in land degradation at the Mohammad bazar block. Arc GIS tools were used to assess the spatio- temporal changes of stone mining activities in the study area. In addition to sampling community perceptions of mining activities, the paper also prescribes interventions that can assist in vindicating the adverse impacts of mining activity. Obviously, environmental and unified socio-economic developments can be achieved within regional stone mines if the government offers technical support to indigenous operators, environmental regulations are improved, and illegitimate mining activity is abridged. The study concludes that stone mining is one of the crucial factor for land degradation at the block area.

Keywords: Stone mining; Lateritic environment; Land degradation; Mohammad bazar block

[ 30 ] ASSESSING SPATIO-TEMPORAL GROWTH OF URBAN SUB-CENTRE USING SHANNON’S ENTROPY MODEL

Monalisha Chakraborty Institute of Development Studies Kolkata Email: [email protected]

Urbanization is a multifaceted process and is now a burning issue in all over the world. As the world gets increasingly urban, more than half of its population live in cities and towns. Scholars have posited an urban explosion in Asia and argued that the fulcrum of urban growth has shifted dramatically away from Africa and Latin America, and towards Asia. Rapid growth of the urban population is undoubtedly one of the key processes affecting Asian development in the 21st century. India and West Bengal too is catching up the trend. The District of North 24 Parganas has high urbanization history and it experienced a remarkable rate of urban growth both in terms of urban population and urban centres since 1951. New Town started too built in part of Block of North 24 Parganas since 1990. As this planned town is only 7 km from Kolkata, rapid growth of commercial, industrial and residential developments take place in this region and it causes a huge change in land use and the changing land use has an enormous effect on the inhabitants of the old rural settlement. The present work evaluates the LULC changes and urban expansion in North 24 Parganas and highlights the major impact of rapid urbanization and population growth on the land cover changes which needs immediate attention. The entire work is carried out based on the historical land use data and statistical data and GIS techniques have been used for LULC change detection.

Keywords: Shannon’s entropy model, Principal component analysis (PCA), urban expansion

ROLE OF BRICK KILN INDUSTRY IN LAND DEGRADATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION: A CASE STUDY FROM DISTRICT MURSHIDABAD, WEST BENGAL

Rakibul Islam Research Scholar, Sikkim University Email: [email protected]

This study attempts to evaluate the impact of brick kiln industry on land degradation and environmental pollution. The study was conducted on twenty seven working brick [ 31 ] industries from three community development blocks of district Murshidabad, West Bengal. The brick industries were selected on the basis of their types. Soil samples were collected from top soil removal land and its immediate land as well as from brick kiln floor and immediate to kiln to compare the results. The data regarding consumption of coal and production of brick each industry per season was collected by field investigation. The changes in the soil quality due to removal of top layer were estimated by examine soil pH, soil Nitrogen, soil Phosphorus and soil Potassium. The changes in toxic level in soil due to brick kiln burning were estimated with the help of electrode pH meter. similarly, the influx of Co2 and Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) to the local atmosphere by each industry was calculated with the help of carbon to Carbon di oxide Emission Factors (CEF) and generation of SPM by the method developed by Talukdar, Achraya and Rout (2006).Finally, Arc GIS (10.2) was use to mapped the spatial distribution of brick kiln industry in the study areas. The result shows that the brick kiln top soil removal activities has played significant role in degrading the soil quality in the study areas. The study also shows that the brick kiln burning has changed the basic or alkaline soil into toxic (acid) soil. In addition, study further shows that the brick kiln burning is responsible for influxes of huge amounts of

Co2and SPM into the local atmosphere and creates a thick layer of smoke during the winters which ultimately pollutes the environments.

Key Words: Brick Kiln Industry, Land Degradation, Soil toxicity, Co2, SPM, Local Atmosphere and Environmental Pollution

MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS AND HYDROLOGICAL BEHAVIOUR OF BRAHMANI RIVER BASIN, JHARKHAND AND WEST BENGAL, INDIA

Rupen Mal Junior Geographical Assistant, NATMO & Research Scholar, Dept. of Geography, Visva Bharati, Santiniketan Email: [email protected]

In the present article hydrological behavior of the Brahmani river basin (area: 1163.69 sq km) covering eastern part of the Chhotanagpur plateau fringe have been assessed based on the detailed account of morphometric quantities of the catchment area. Most of the lower order streams including the source are having origin in the Chhotanagpur plateau region and flows east towards Gangetic flood plain tomerge with the Dwarkariver, near well-known Hizolwetland inthe . The entire catchment is primarily rain-fed and fluvial processes are the prime element for evolution of the drainage basin. To

[ 32 ] explore the same widely accepted quantitative morphometric techniques with the aid of contemporary Geo-Spatial technology have been utilized. The study reveals that, the study area is lithologically uniform and structurally permeable. The high drainage densities of most of the sub-watersheds primarily located in the upper and upper middle catchment indicatecapacious surface runoff. Course to moderate drainage texture is the indicative of active weathering processes. The dendric and sub-dendric drainage pattern of the study region is again indicative of more or less uniform lithological structure. Relatively high bifurcation ratios particularly in the upper and upper middle catchment indicate that the terrain is rugged and are spited many times by the drainage network. Elongated shapes of most of the sub-watersheds of the upper catchment indicate prompt runoff and less lag time. From the present integrated analysis of the morphometric parameters,important hydrologic behaviour of the 12 sample sub-watersheds could be inferred.

Key words: Morphometry, Hydrological Behavior, Drainage Density, Drainage Texture

ASSESSMENTOF HEALTH CARE SITUATION IN INDIA: CURRENT SCENARIO AND NEW CHALLENGER

Dr. Snehamanju Basu Associate Professor, Dept. of Geography, Lady Brabourne College Email: [email protected]

Health is one of the few areas where the country has made modest success after independence when measured in terms of commonly accepted indicators (Dreze and Sen 2013). Even though some of these indicators show a better status of India striking disparities are observed across its states, between rural and urban areas, between gender, class and caste groups. The connection between poverty, and health has attracted considerable attention and a number of studies have demonstrated the close link between economic status and different well-being indicators including health both at macro and micro levels. In this context few important questions arise; do increases in health expenditure necessarily result in improvements in health indicators? Do improved health status and health care utilization emanate from greater investment in health by the state or from improved socio-economic conditions of the population. A number of studies have found positive impact of income, education and medical inputs on health status of population. Credible evidence on the association between inequality and health has been found for many countries. However, it is argued that the effects of improved health status on growth must necessarily be long run in nature. Cross-country experience shows that

[ 33 ] child mortality falls faster in countries with rapidly growing per capita income (World Bank 1993). Health and poverty may be presumed to share a synergistic and bi-directional relationship, wherein Poverty exacerbates ill-health and ill-health diminishes labour productivity which results in earning opportunities. Although close linkage between ill- health and economic poverty is accepted, surprisingly little evidence has been generated on the power of this relationship. In Indian context, less evidence exists exploring the health dimensions of economic poverty. Against this backdrop the present paper aims at to explore: How can health status and health care facilities be improved despite the constraints of persisting mass poverty? The main objectives of the present study are the following: 1. To discuss the issues of access and utilization of health care facilities in different states of India. 2. To explore the inequalities that exist across population subgroups. The whole work has been done mainly on the basis of secondary data analysis. It has been revealed that access to healthcare is a more complex concept than it appears in the common equity discourse. Number of factors are responsible for the better accessibility of those healthcare facilities. Those factors have been highlighted properly in the present analysis. Keywords: Disparities, Accessibility, Economic Poverty, Healthcare, Inequalities

FORMATION OF MID CHANNEL BARS WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON HYDRO MORPHOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES: A STUDY OF JALDHAKAG RIVER, INDIA

Md Kutubuddin Dhali Research Scholar, Presidency University, Kolkata Email: [email protected] & Mery Biswas Department of Geography, Presidency University, Kolkata Email:[email protected]

Study of this article is aimed to investigate the generation, orientation and stabilization of mid channel bar in gravel braided alluvial inner-bed of , covering both primary and secondary channels of Himalayan foothill, India. The work also includes the systematic and scientific way to examine the migration of micro bars under the

[ 34 ] light of variation and consequence of fluvial hydraulics in last 20 years. The bridge controls the hydraulics of the river which is most affective of upstream to lower stream deposition of mid channel aggradation. Dynamics of micro to meso bar deposition is mainly accomplished by the break of slope with special emphasis of flow piracy which is seasonal, temporary or permanent. Migration, re-generation and degradation of the micro bars with their optimum morphology show changes during the rainy season. Stability of bars is observed in the low flow zone which is large in wide areas of the channel. Sequential change of sediment with bar stratigraphy reveals the impact of spatio-temporal change of Jaldhaka mid-channel bar formation. The braiding process of flow ensures the favourable condition of next deposition of old to new bar formation.

Key words: Jaldhaka River, mid channel bars, bar formation

APPLICATION OF GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM IN MANAGEMENT OF SOLID WASTE: A CASE STUDY OF NEW TOWN, KOLKATA

Suddhasil Bose Junior Research Fellow, Dept. of Geography, Lady Brabourne College Email: [email protected] & Dr. Snehamanju Basu Associate Professor, Dept. of Geography, Lady Brabourne College Email: [email protected]

Solid waste management is one of the most alarming problems faced by today’s world. Sold waste is increasing day by day because of population growth in terms of commercial, residential land, infrastructure development. In an urban area solid waste management is considered to be the unavoidable fact of local authorities like municipality or corporation. With rapid urbanization substantial increase in generation of solid waste and there is a chance of contamination of air, water and land resources in an urban area. Application of GIS can be helpful to this following problem: GPS enabled cars, real-time GPS monitoring, lithological, biological, geomorphological aspects of a specific area all can be applied. These will lead to collect waste in a specific given time and thus proper allocation of solid waste will be done, with mobile access through apps it could be helpful to local residents also. Applying data with proper software, will analyze the data, that will lead to a proper assessment. As case study-Newtown Kolkata should be mentioned, local administrative body, NKDA has implemented application of GIS in MSW service, in a specific action area, All the collected data can properly be channelized through upgraded software and it would [ 35 ] be easier to manage the problem of MSW, using GIS. But sometimes it is expensive and also it needs a certain qualification to handle such upgraded technological equipments, but for a betterment of a growing urban civilization technological upgradatation in the name of solid waste management is really needed. Keywords: urbanization, GIS, GPS monitoring, mobile apps, technological upgradation

MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE GENERATION AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICE IN INDIA: A GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

Dr. Mahua Chatterjee Assistant Professor,Department of Geography, Lady Brabourne College, Kolkata Email: [email protected]

India has diverse geographic and climatic regions and accordingly residents living in these zones have different consumption and waste generation pattern. High population growth rates, rapidly varying waste characterization and generation patterns, growing urbanization and industrialization contribute enhanced municipal solid waste (MSW) generation and unscientific handling of MSW degrades the urban environment and causes health hazards. In this paper, an attempt is made to evaluate the major parameters of MSWM, a comprehensive review of MSW generation and its collection and treatment options as practiced in India. The study is based on information and data available in the reports of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Planning Commission of India and Census. Lack of financial resources, institutional weaknesses, improper choice of technology and public apathy towards waste has made the prevalent system of waste management far from satisfactory. If segregation of solid waste is done at source (be it household, office or commercial establishment) then biodegradable waste could be processed separately and converted into manure and electricity while the plastic waste can be used separately for making paver tiles and other materials. Environment friendliness, cost effectiveness, and acceptability to the local community are major attributes to achieve efficient solid waste management system. Several cities have already taken positive steps towards implementing sustainable waste management practices by involving the community in segregation, by enforcing better PPP contracts and by investing modern technology for transportation, processing and disposal. Micro level planning putting emphasis on the installation of decentralized solid waste processing units, development of formal recycling industry sector is needed for efficient urban governance and management.

Key words: population, urbanisation, solid waste, segregation, environment, micro level planning [ 36 ] AN ASSESSMENT OF SUSTAINABILITY OF INDIAN TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

Mohana Basu Research Scholar, Jadavpur University Email: [email protected]

An efficient network of transportation is the backbone for economic development of any country. It plays a significant role in not only economic development but also in delivering important support system such as the Public Distribution System (PDS) for rural development and eradication of poverty, which is among the national objectives. Indian Railways, roads, airways and maritime transport with marginal contributions from inland waterways caters the transportation system in India. Institutionally various ministries, departments and agencies that deal with the respective sectors of transportation govern the Indian Transportation System. A widely accepted definition of sustainable transportation system on the principles of sustainable development to transportation sector is as follows (AASHTO, 2012): A sustainable transportation system is one which allows the basic access needs of individuals and societies to be met safely and in a manner consistent with human and ecosystem health and with equity within and between generations. It is affordable, operates efficiently, offers choice of transport mode and supports a vibrant economy. Sustainable Transportation limits emissions and waste within the planet’s ability to absorb them, minimizes consumption of non-renewable resources to the sustainable yield level, reuses and recycles its components and minimizes the use of land and the production of noise. This paper is primarily based on secondary data derived from various sources and attempts to analyze the existing nature of transportation in India. This chapter tries to assess the present state of Indian transport and its evolution since independence. In the backdrop of sustainability principles, it further tries to assess Indian transport and present a way forward alongside various national initiative. It seems that since independence the transport infrastructure of India has been increasing steadily and with all essential diversity which is required for efficient transport system development.

Keywords: economic development, Public Distribution System, sustainable development, Sustainable Transportation, non-renewable resources

[ 37 ] APPLICATION OF GEOINFORMATICS IN FUNCTIONAL REGIONALISATION: A COMPARATIVE STUDY AMONG SOME COLLEGES OF PASCHIM BARDDHAMAN DISTRICT

Dr. Sarbendu Bikash Dhar Assistant Professor, TDB College, Raniganj, Paschim Barddhaman, West Bengal Email: [email protected]

Functional regionalisation is very effective in determining the influence zone of any service centre. In the present study, such an attempt is made assuming the colleges as the service centres in the newly formed Paschim Barddhaman district. In this study, some selected colleges have been considered as the nodes. The ranges of services have been determined by locating the distance of residential places of the students from their respective colleges on map. For the convenience of the study, data regarding the residential locations have been collected only from the Semester I Geography Core students from some selected colleges in the study area. All residential addresses then converted into geographical coordinates using online GIS platform. Distances of the student’s residence from their own colleges have been calculated. Then a functional zone showing the sphere of influence of each college under study is prepared. This is an example of using geoinformatics for identifying the influence zone of the colleges.

A comparative analysis of the influence zones of the colleges shows a varying nature in range of service of each college. The college having better connectivity, hostel facility and reputed departments with better infrastructure show a large influence zone. On the contrary, colleges with lack of desired infrastructure and connectivity is lacking behind in comparison to their counter parts, in terms of their sphere of influence.

Key words: Influence zone, functional region, range of service, GIS, geoinformatics, service centre

IDENTIFICATION OF OPTIMUM BAND COMBINATION FOR LAND SURFACE WATER MAPPING USING LANDSAT TM DIGITAL DATA – A STATISTICAL APPROACH

Sakti Mandal Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Sripat Singh College, Jiaganj, W.B. Email: [email protected]

Single band Remote sensing image may not be sufficient to extract desired information. Handling of multiple bands is also tedious and inconvenient. Multiple bands may be combined [ 38 ] to generate one or more transformed combined bands following different mathematical operations. Multi band combination has the capability to enhance the feature of interest to the analyst. Band combination refers to some mathematical operations to be performed to two or more output bands to achieve the desired result. Band combination includes addition, subtraction, ratioing, multiplication PCA, HIS transformation etc. As using these kinds of band combinations algebraically objects’ internal spectral characteristics is enhanced, I can say it as supervised enhancement technique. Land surface water (LSW) is an important part of the water cycle. LSW mapping, using remote sensing techniques, plays an important role in wetland monitoring; flood monitoring, flood disaster assessment, surface water area estimation, and water resources management. Over three decades, multi-resource remote sensing data, such as data from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR), MODIS (Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectro- radiometer), Small Satellite Constellation For Environment and Disaster Monitoring And Forecasting A/B Satellites (HJ-1A/B), Multispectral Scanner System (MSS), TM (Thematic Mapper), and ETM+ (Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus) have been employed to extract information on land surface water bodies. One widely used remote sensing dataset for LSW mapping are the TM and ETM+ images provided by the Landsat series satellites. The multi-band methods, which are based on the supervised enhancement techniques like spectral water index, are better at the detection of LSW body information than the single- band method is because they take advantage of reflectivity differences of each involved band and extract water-body information based on the analysis of signature differences between water and non water objects. In this present study a new spectral water index has been introduced by multiplying the components – ratio between Green band (TM band 2) and NIR band (TM band 4), and ratio between Green and SWIR (TM band 5). In this present study all those digital indices or band combinations have been employed over the selected study sites and it is found that these water body information detection algorithms produce different LSW mapping results. Hence we need to understand which band combination is the best indicator of LSW mapping from Landsat remote sensing imagery. I analyzed the performance of LSW mapping based on TM data using different water body detection models in two selected study sites.

Keywords: Remote Sensing, Band Combination, Land Surface Water, Landsat Data.

[ 39 ] IMPACT AND VULNERABILITY OF DROUGHT ON THE AGRICULTURE OF BANKURA DISTRICT IN WEST BENGAL, INDIA

Tanmoy Basu Research Scholar (JRF), , Kalyani-741235, Nadia Email:[email protected]

Drought, as a climatic disaster is one of the most vulnerable and slowest destroyers which effects on the economy and society on this disaster risk areas. It is also one of the most vulnerable climatic long- term and effective disasters in the western part of West Bengal, The physiographic features, such as the plateau region and western ‘Rarh’ of Bengal faces the maximum temperature and minimum rainfall than the other part of west Bengal. In this aspect drought cases are frequently occurred in those regions and fall impact severally on the livelihood activities of the local dwellers. The several occurrence of drought in Gangetic west Bengal over the last 70 years highlight the reducing agricultural area with the production which is one of the main issue in the ‘Rarh’ Bengal and the western plateau region of the state including Bankura District. The present study signifies with specific objectives using mainly secondary databases and descriptive statistics with the special emphasis on the affectivity of drought in the present changing situation of climate. The techniques of measurement of Overall Yield Index (Shafi, 1972) have been used to show the condition of productivity of crops in the drought prone areas which results into the condition that in the Community Development Blocks named Chhatna, Ranibandh, Hirbandh where the drought is most destrouous, production condition of crops are low to moderately high. Besides, measures of mean, standard deviation ultimately show that the mean of 12 months annual rainfall is 111.1667 and standard deviation is 374.3343 and averagely mean of principal crop productions is 8.9551 and standard deviation is 4.7784. Finally the study is concluded with mentioning overall impacts and future prospects of the resultant conditions due to the sever impact of draught on the agriculture of Bankura District.

Keywords: Drought prone, vulnerability, variability, overall impact

[ 40 ] AN ASSESSMENT OF ROAD TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND ITS MITIGATING PLANNING STRATEGIES: A CASE STUDY OF BEHALACHOWRASTA TRAFFIC INTERSECTION POINT

Dr. Indrajit Roy Chowdhury Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, University of North Bengal Email: [email protected]

Traffic congestion is one of the major problems in the city of Kolkata due to high growth rates of motorized transport. Most of the busy traffic intersection points in Kolkata are badly affected by huge traffic congestion. Behala Chowrasta Traffic Intersection Point is one of the important intersection points which has been considered as major congested traffic points in Kolkata. Encroachment of the road by pavement dwellers and illegal car parking has reduced the widening space of the road and even improper construction of road divider, unscientific construction of speed breaker, size and weight of the car, problem of traffic signaling system and traffic diversion, more number of on road personalized cars, two wheelers and autos are some of the reasons behind the traffic congestion in the city of Kolkata. Due to traffic jam a substantial portion of working hours have to be left on street which directly put adverse impact on economy. Congestion causes tremendous vehicular air pollution within the city of Kolkata. According to the survey conducted by West Bengal Pollution Control Board in the year 2012-2013, it has been observed that concentration of major vehicular air pollutants such as So2, NO2, Pb, NOX, SPM, RPM, Benzene, Volatile Organic Compounds, CO and CO2 are high in proportion in this traffic point due to maximum congestion during peak hours. In this paper an attempt has been made to point out the present scenario of traffic congestion and assess the environmental quality at Behala Traffic intersection points within the city of Kolkata.

Key words: Traffic Congestion, Environment, Encroachment, Speed Breakers, Intersection Points

[ 41 ] A DISTRICT LEVEL ANALYSIS OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN URBAN WEST BENGAL

Samik Chakraborty Research Scholar, Department of Applied Geography, School of Regional Studies and Earth Sciences, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack – 753 003, Odisha, India Email: [email protected]

Nowadays municipal authorities are facing tremendous problems to manage solid waste which is being generated every day from the various corners of urban centres around the world. Rapid growth of urbanization and population has made this problem more critical. Environmental quality is being threatened day by day due to improper management of solid waste. This has become a burning issue among the researchers from various disciplines. West Bengal, one of the eastern states of India is also suffering from this problem. There are several number of , unevenly distributed among the districts of this state are following the conventional as well as modern means of solid waste management by which some of the districts are being benefitted where as some other are not. The prime objective of the study is to give an overall status of solid waste management in the urban parts of these districts. To carry out this study, district wise municipal waste generation, collection, collection efficiency, collection methods, vehicles used in waste collection, means of waste transportation and status of waste disposal has been analyzed. This study is completely based on secondary sources of data collected from the West Bengal Pollution Control Board and the Census of India. Maps have been generated through Map Info Professional GIS software and the diagrams have been prepared from Microsoft Excel. Spatial variation GIS mapping of different variables and attributes have been done. Karl Person’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and Student’s T-Test has specially been used to point out the degrees of relationship of different aspect. The major findings of this study has been established a well-definedcomparative analysis on various aspects of solid waste management among the districts. The study is finally concluded with some fruitful suggestions which has been given by keeping the major finding into the mind.

Key words: Solid waste management, West Bengal, district level analysis, comparison

[ 42 ] MONITORING OF FLOOD SITUATION BY APPLYING REMOTE SENSING TECHNIQUES

Dr. Asit Kumar Sarkar Academic Consultant, Netaji Subhas Open University Email: [email protected]

Different parameters of the environment may be studied scientifically by applying various remote sensing techniques. It has been observed that in most of the cases, it is better to monitor the situation at periodic intervals, and here lies the importance of remote sensing technology, which fulfils this particular condition. With this background in the present paper an attempt has been made to study flood scenarios in different parts of India, which occurred on various occasions. In the present context, three specific cases have been taken up for investigation. Firstly, in the month of September, 2000, devastating flood occurred in parts of West Bengal, which displaced 22 million people and destroyed and / or damaged 2.2 million houses. In addition to that, substantial number of domestic animals and huge acreage of standing crops were damaged due to unprecedented rainfall, resulting occurrence of severe flood. This flood scenario could have been viewed through AVHRR images. The second case study is associated with creation of a natural dam behind Pareechu River in Tibet due to land slide in the year 2004. The periodic scenario clearly depicted the change of the dimension of the lake. ASTER on NASA’s Terra satellite captured the images of the new lake, which helped to evacuate thousands of people from Indian side of Sutlej river valley. It may be noted here that for this interior part of the , remote sensing is the only available tool to monitor the periodic situation and there after preparation of alternate planning strategy to mitigate problems. Heavy rains during November-December, 2015 caused unprecedented flood in Tamil Nadu. Vast area of Chennai city was inundated. Rail, roads, flyovers and even airport was under flood water. Satellite images from RISAT-1, Radarsat-2 and high resolution Cartosat - 2B clearly depicted the situation and helped the appropriate authorities to administer the rescue and relief operations. Thus remote sensing techniques appear to be of immense help to the planners for drawing up plans and programmes for mitigating problems associated with flood situation as have been observed in above mentioned discussion. Key words: ASTER, AVHRR, Cartosat, flood, Radarsat, RISAT, remote sensing

[ 43 ] AN ANALYSIS OF CHANGE IN AGRICULTURAL LAND-USE PATTERN OF KRISHNANAGAR SUBDIVISION, NADIA DISTRICT, WEST BENGAL

Dr. Anupriya Chatterjee Assistant Professor, Dept. of Geography, Kishore Bharati Bhagini Nivedita College Email: [email protected] & Susmita Mandal Assistant Professor, Dept. of Geography, South Calcutta Girls’ College. Email:[email protected]

Nadia district of west Bengal is dominantly covered by agricultural land use pattern. Historically agriculture was the main occupation of the inhabitants and mono-cropping was mainly practiced in the district, by indigenous method which was environmentally sustainable. But the situation changed since from seventies with the introduction of various modern technologies and irrigation schemes. The ever increasing population pressure on land also ignited the necessity of increasing the yield per hectare and thereby paved the way to multiple cropping patterns. This led to a major change in the agricultural land-use pattern A case study of Krishnanagar subdivision is taken into consideration for an analysis of change in agricultural land-use pattern from the year 1985-86 to 2010-11. The main objective of the study is to find out the factors that are responsible for the change in agricultural land- use and what effect it generates on the environmental condition of the study area. From the analysis it is very much clear that a remarkable change has occurred in the area under cultivation, the yield per hectare as well as the volume of production of various types of crops.

[ 44 ] A REMOTE SENSING & GIS BASED APPROACH IN IDENTIFYING CHANNEL CHANGES AND FLUVIO-GEOMORPHIC FEATURES IN MAYAPUR-NABADWIP AREA

Aparupa Sinha Assistant Teacher, Balbalia J.B. School, West Bengal Email: [email protected]. & Anupam Das Assistant Professor, Mahavidyalaya, West Bengal Email: [email protected]

Bhagirathi River system is an essential lifeline for the people of southern West Bengal, India, which provides perpetual supply of water for irrigation, human and industry consumption. Right from the deviation of its main course as near Jangipur in Murshidabad till Krishnanagar in the south, Bhagirathi encircles within the moribund deltaic region with a meager flow and follows a low gradient which facilitates Bhagirathi and its tributaries to oscillate their courses over decades and centuries and have resulted in depicting interesting fluvio-morphic features. The present study area concentrates on the Bhagirathi-Jalangi floodplains of district Nadia. Here the rivers Bhagirathi and Jalangi contribute an important role in structuring the physical sphere which made human civilization to rest on. The study deals with channel changes of Bhagirathi-Jalangi and its resulting fluvio geomorphic adjustments like meander cut-offs, oxbow lakes, interscroll swales, decayed channels, back swamp depressions, shallow depressions and seasonal water bodies that hold rain water for an extended period, using an integrated approach of Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS). SoI Toposheet of the year 1968 is also compared with the image data to observe the change. For fulfillment of this purpose, Landsat TM & MSS Satellite image 2000 and 2010 are identified and compared. GPS survey has also been conducted for ground trusting. Though the area has been experiencing changes over the past 400 years, the study explores the record within 1968 to 2010, on a four decade window. The remnants of the oscillating Bhagirathi as meander cut- off and numerous bills and wetlands are found to be stagnating as having no connection with the main river . The detached lengths of old courses, including ox-bow lakes, meander scrolls, cut offs, bills around the study area are used for irrigation, fishing, dumping garbage, defection and dart washing. In the Bhagirathi–Jalangi interfluves and further south on both the flood plains of Hugli land forming process has practically ceased and many drainage channels have become functionally inoperative, hence the hazards of flood are at their highest and the disposal of run-off is a serious concern.

Keywords: Channel Shifting, GIS, Remote Sensing, Ox-Bow Lake, Meander Cut-off [ 45 ] ECOTOURISM AND ITS DIMENSIONS OF IMPACT IN CHILKA, ODISHA, INDIA

Sanat Kumar Purkait Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Raidighi College, West Bengal, India Email: [email protected] & Soumyajit Halder Guest faculty, Vidyasagar Evening College, DDE (Vidyasagar University) Email: [email protected]

Ecotourism is special type of tourism involving visiting fragile, pristine, and relatively undisturbed peaceful natural areas, intended as a low-impact, eco-friendly and often small scale alternative to standard commercial mass tourism which means responsible travel to natural areas conserving the environment and improving the well- being of the local inhabitant. It has emerged as one of the fastest growing sectors of the tourism industry, influenced primarily by public demand for more environment friendly tourism. If it is planned properly, it has been reported that ecotourism can integrate conservation of biodiversity with the socioeconomic development of local communities. This research covers Chilka conducting investigation on three major target groups namely tourists, local residents and accommodation enterprises. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire and personal interview, for this purpose 38 samples were taken. The study trying to reveal the characteristics of tourists and their perception about nature is very delicate and that the earth has limited capacity and resources. It also tries to investigate current perceptions, awareness and opinions of the local residents on ecotourism in Chilka.

Keywords: Ecotourism, Chilka, Nature, Community Development, Biodiversity Conservation

[ 46 ] URBAN CONDITIONS AND LIVEABILITY STATUS ANALYSIS IN PANSKURA MUNICIPALITY, PURBA MEDINIPUR, WEST BENGAL

Balai Adhikary Faculty member, P.G. Department of Geography, Panskura Banamali College, Email: [email protected] & Sunanda Bera P.G. Department of Geography, Panskura Banamali College

Panskura municipality is one of the important municipality in Purba Medinipur district and important centre of trade and commerce i.e. vegetables business and good transport and communication centre such as railway junction at Panskura station on Howrah Mumbai railway line. The said urban area consist seventeen wards and except few wards several no. of wards reveals the rural like characteristics. Lack of urban services and facilities is the scenario of the Panskura urban area. In this paper focused on the ward wise disparity in distribution of different urban services and facilities and ward wise status of urban liveability. Both primary and secondary data are considered here and ten samples have been selected from each ward through systematic sampling method. All samples are matured in their in their age. The study based on perceptions of local urban dwellers and data base convert into percentage figure for proper presentation and calculate average percentage, aggregate average percentage and prepared map for proper presentation of ward wise liveability status. Socio-cultural, economic, environmental parameters consider here to measure the ward wise liveability status. Overall scenario of urban services and facilities and liveability status in Panskura municipality are moderate to bad. Not a single ward in the said urban area among the seventeen wards not so well for liveability. So many Peoples in this urban area prevails their daily life without minimum standard of facilities and urban services.

Keywords: Urban, Urban Services and facilities, Liveability, Socio-cultural, Economic, Environmental

[ 47 ] RISK AND VULNERABILITY MANAGEMENT OF ASSAM FLOOD BY USING REMOTE SENSING AND GIS TECHNOLOGY

Bubai Ghosh Email: [email protected] Shibu Das Email: [email protected] SuranjanMajumder Email: [email protected] Student of M.Sc. in Geography, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal

Assam is one of the disaster prone vulnerable area of north-east India. Flood disaster is the major environmental issue of Assam. An assessment has been made in this paper to analyze the actual causes of the disasters, to assess the impact of flood on environment and economy in the study area and to determine the mitigation method taken by Government through Remote Sensing and GIS technology. This paper is based mainly the secondary data which is collected from various books, journals and reports. Q GIS software is used for map making. Due to the low carrying capacity of Barak and , every year flood is occurred in the monsoon season. As a result a thousand of people become homeless, million hectors of crop are damaged, transport network system are interrupt and this issue majorly affect in the economy of Assam. Though it is not possible to all round protection against flood but using the Remote Sensing and GIS technology it is possible to predict the f lood prone area, after creating f lood mapping, monitoring, risk assessment, drainage network etc. This paper presents a review of application of remote sensing and GIS in flood management with particular focus in Assam.

Keywords: Disaster, flood, risk assessment, vulnerability

THE EMERGING ISSUE OF FOREST DEGRADATION IN PURULIA DISTRICT

Mau Manna Guest Lecturer, Shirakole Mahavidyalaya (under CU) Email: [email protected]

“What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are do into ourselves & to one another”. – Mahatma Gandhi. Despite recent achievement & progress in our economy, deforestation remains one of [ 48 ] the important problems in developing country like India. There is no standard definition for forest degradation, but in this long term process, where human activity play savital role. The present study district Purulia is economically backward with a huge forest cover of 797sq.km (Census-2011). The rural (87.3%)poor, mainly reserve category people are associated and dependent on its forest cover for various purposes. During the last few decades (1971 to 2011),it is observed that 10.35% of forest cover is degraded. The district has a high population growth rate with a noticeable population density of 468persons /sq.km (2011 Census). As the work participation rate of the district is very low (42.6%), poor people nearer to the forest are much more dependent on forest for food, fuel, furniture, fertilizer & medicinal purpose. The present paper aims to review the condition of forest degradation in Purulia district. There is a high need to understand the consequences of deforestation on human being as well as the environment. Forest degradation or deforestation has a massive impact on climate change, which plays a key role to leads the many natural calamities like droughts, floods, severe cyclones etc. So, to protect the hydrological cycle, climate, soil & biodiversity we need to protect the forest first. Therefore, in the present paper, an exploratory analysis is attempt based on some descriptive & quantitative methods like review of literature work, cartograms representation and statistical applications and GIS techniques. The present attempt is also aiming to find out some possible way out to protect the forest cover and reestablish the global awareness among the locals to protect the forest.

Key Words:Forest, Degradation, Wasteland, Management, Awareness, GIS, Purulia

THE SPATIO-TEMPORAL VARIATIONS AND APPLICATION OF GIS ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY OF NADIA DISTRICT IN WEST BENGAL

Indrajit Dutta Student, M.Sc. in Geography, University of Kalyani Email id:[email protected]

The study has been carried out for a period of 2007-08 to 2015-16.For this purpose an attempt has been made to delineate agricultural productivity regions on the basis of six crops aus paddy, aman paddy, boro paddy, jute,wheat and mustared. Shafi’s method (1972) has been adopted which considers the overall yield index for each agricultural blocks. The overall spatial distribution of yield index for the considered time period reflects variations pattern of the district (Choropleth map inserted).Basically,the cropping system approach

[ 49 ] is a holistic management of variant and invariant resources to optimize the food production. Various indices are used to assess and evaluate the efficiency and sustainability of the systems. These indices are generally computed from the data collected by traditional survey methods that are time consuming and non spatial. An attempt has been made to derive such indices using satellite remote sensing data for the state of West Bengal, India. Three indices i.e. Multiple Cropping Index (MCI), Area Diversity Index (ADI) and Cultivated Land Utilization Index (CLUI) has been attempted. Beside this, multisensor data from Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS) and Radarsat Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) were used to derive cropping pattern, crop rotation, and crop calendar. Agriculture, in response to its favourable environmental conditions is always in the process of transformation towards development in the study area. The profitability and economic impact resulted there from brings in changes in the social lives of the farmers with changing values and attitudes towards life.

Keywords: Area Diversity Index (ADI), Choropleth Map, Cultivated Land Utilization Index (CLUI), Multiple Cropping Index (MCI), Overall Yield Index, Productivity Regions.

IDENTIFICATION OF AREAS VULNERABLE TO WATER LOGGING IN PAGLA RIVER BASIN, EASTERN INDIA USING GIS-BASED WEIGHTED LINEAR COMBINATION METHOD: A MULTI-CRITERIA DECISION APPROACH

Krishanu Datta Research Scholar, Department of Geography Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, West Bengal, India Email ID: [email protected] & Krishnendu Gupta Assistant Professor, Department of Geography Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, West Bengal, India Email ID: [email protected]

Almost every year during monsoon season water logging becomes a serious environmental problem in Pagla river basin, eastern India. It inundates vast area of agricultural lands under water for a long period of time (3-4 months) that affects profoundly on the socio economic condition of the people of the study area. The prime objective of the present study is to indentify major areas vulnerable to water logging in

[ 50 ] Pagla river basin applying raster based weighted linear combination method in Arc GIS environment considering six parameters which are responsible for water logging in the study area viz. ground water level, NDWI, absolute relief, slope, Proximity to stream channel (drainage buffer distance) and rainfall. According to water logging vulnerability, the study area has been divided into five zones viz. extremely vulnerable, highly vulnerable, moderately vulnerable, less vulnerable and water logged free zone. Raster based spatial models reveals that out of the total basin area 9.36 % area is extremely vulnerable. These areas are concentrated mainly in the lower part of the basin having low relief and gentle slope.

Keywords: Water Logging, GIS, Weighted linear combination method, Knowledge based method of weighting, Vulnerability

OBSERVING THE FORMATION OF PURBASTHALI OXBOW LAKE FROM RIVER BHAGIRATHI-HUGLI, BURDWAN DISTRICT, WEST BENGAL

Debabrata Das P.G. Student of Geography, Krishnagar Government College, Nadia Email: debabrata.geography.org.com

This paper aims to explain the phases of Purbasthali oxbow lake formation from River Bhagirathi-Hugli, Burdwan district, West Bengal. The present study focuses on over 30 year’s evolution of the river bank in the study area with help of studying Satellite images. This study compares the present scenario and the past situation and clearly shown the evolution of river channel (in study area) and formation of Purbasthali Oxbow lake.

Keywords: Purbasthali oxbow lake, River Bhagirathi-Hugli, Burdwan District, West Bengal, Satellite Images

[ 51 ] SUSTAINABLE WETLAND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: A CASE STUDY OF BARITI BEEL, NORTH TWENTY FOUR PARGANAS, WEST BENGAL

Madhumita Basu Lecturer in geography, DDE, RabindraBharati University Email: [email protected]

Wetlands are known for their storehouse of resources at local, regional as well as global scales worldwide. Wetlands are defined as lands that are neither permanently aquatic nor terrestrial but are either permanently or temporarily inundated with water, for a depth of at least 3 meters, with characteristic hydric soils, typical macro-phytic vegetation, wetland vertebrates and invertebrates along with a list of avian fauna and rich biodiversity. The wetlands provide us with various functions broadly clubbed under geo-morphological, ecological, economical and socio-cultural attributes. However with the ever increasing human population and the unprecedented growth of human civilization it is but customary to know that almost all forms of natural resources of the earth has been exhausted. Wetlands for a long time remained as a blessing in disguise for our environment until the pressure of teeming millions started converting the wetlands unknowingly for narrow partisan interests. The study of wetlands is therefore important so as to meet the demands of the large population in one hand and restore the environmental quality on the other. The primary objective of the study is to infer the total value of resources available from the wetland, find out reasons for its loss and degradation over time and space and suggest sustainable management strategies to conserve the natural resource. Sustainable management of wetlands are crucial for the proper sustenance of mankind and the procedure should be such that it is recovered, restored, conserved and managed for not only the present generation but for several generations to come. The study has been conducted in a natural temporary cyclical wetland in North Twenty Four Parganas named Baritibeel, comprising of five blocks namely I and II, and Block I and II, in West Bengal. The methodology adopted for the study includes scientific approach with intensive primary and secondary data collection, literature review and experts opinion from both stakeholders and wetland scientists. The study conducted reveals the decline in wetland quality, total acreage and is infested with several local problems thereby relegating a once life-line of the locals generating resources with an enriching ecosystem to a degraded plot of land, addressing which thus remains a challenge. Keywords: Biodiversity, sustainable management, conserved, ecosystem, stakeholders

[ 52 ] ANALYSIS OF THE PRODUCTIVITY AND CONCENTRATION OF MANGO CULTIVATION IN THE SELECTED C. D. BLOCKS OF MALDA DISTRICT, WEST BENGAL, INDIA

Abhijit Paul M.A in Geography, UGC NET: JRF, University of Kalyani, Kalyani-741235, Nadia Email: [email protected]

Mango is one of the most popular fruits in India as well as all over the world. It is known as the king of all tropical fruits. India shares about 56% of total mango production in the world (RKVY, 2013). Malda, a district of West Bengal in India shares a large amount of mango in international markets. A large number of people in this district are engaged in mango cultivation. The present study signifies with specific objectives using mainly secondary databases and descriptive statistics with the special emphasis on the productivity and concentration of mango cultivation in the district. The district has three physiographic divisions which is Tal, Diara and Barind upland. Out of them the former two divisions has contributed the maximum production of mango. The Crop Concentration Index after Bhatia (1965) and Crop Productivity Index after Enyedi (1964) have been formulized to show the productivity and concentration of mango in the selected Community Development Blocks. QGIS, geoinformatics software, has been used to prepare maps of concentration and productivity of mango in the selected C. D. Blocks in the district. The maximum productivity (productivity index Ã2.5) of mango has been found in the blocks of Kaliachak-II, English Bazar and when the highest concentration (concentration index Ã1.45) has been found in the same blocks as well as Kaliachak-I and Manikchak. Tal and Diara uplands have the favourable conditions to grow up the mangoes but in Barind upland soil is not favourable for mango cultivation. Finally the study is concluded with the reasons of development of mango cultivation in Tal and Diara upland.

Keywords: Crop productivity index, Crop concentration index, Descriptive statistics

[ 53 ] ASSESSING THE SOCIO-ECONOMICAL CONDITION AND INFRASTRUCTURAL FACILITY OF SLUM DWELLERS: A CASE STUDY ON RANAGHAT MUNICIPALITY, NADIA DISTRICT, WEST BENGAL.

Milan Ghosh M.A. (Ex-Student of Kalyani University) [email protected]

At present day the emergence and expansion of slum is the main challenge for all the urban area through the world, especially in developing and underdeveloped countries. Study of slum dwellers has become an important problem because they influence the physical and socioeconomic environment of the urban area. Ranaghat is a small town of Nadia district in West Bengal. According to 2011 census the municipality having 56 slums stayed and the total amount of slum population is 10729 which occupied the 13.23% of the total population. The aim of this research was to examine the socio-economic and infrastructural condition of slum dwellers of Ranaghat municipality and suggest some management plan. To determine the socioeconomic condition of slum dweller different social indices like education index(EI), health index(HI), income index(II) have been used. The value of Health index, education index and income index are respectively 0.68, 0.64 and 0.21 which indicate very poor socio-economical condition and the area under slum settlement is characterized by substandard house, narrow street, absence of sanitary and sewerage system which also indicate poor environmental condition. On the basis of following study some measures have been suggested which should effectively eradicate this problem through some socio-economic and infrastructural development.

GIS BASED SURFACE TERRAIN ANALYSIS: A STUDY OF UPPER PINDAR RIVER BASIN, UTTARAKHAND, INDIA

Senjuti Nandy Research Scholar, Department of Geography, Visva-Bharati, Santonikatan 731235 E-mail: [email protected]

In physical geography, terrain is the most vital component of land surface. It assesses elevation, slope and orientation of topographic features of earth. Now a days, GIS based

[ 54 ] study become essential to analyse the surface terrain mainly in case of remote and inaccessible parts of earth.

In this paper, an attempt has been made to characterise the surface terrain or relief of Upper Pindar River Basin (30Ú00´05½ N. - 30Ú19´ N. and 79Ú35´06½ E. - 80Ú05´55½ E.) which originates from Pindar Glacier of Nanda Devi Range in Bageswar District of Kumaon Division, and flows uptoTalor Village, Chamoli District of Garhwal Division. To analyse topography of this basin SRTM DEM (30 m.), Landsat 8 as well as SOI Toposheet (1: 50,000) have been used in ERDAS Imagine 9.2 and ArcGIS 10.1 software. Study of Upper Pindar Basin reveals that it is extended over an area of 743.85 Km² with significant relief difference between upper part and lower part of the basin. The study area is identified as a well-drained sixth-order basin with moderate slopes ranging from 11.54p to 55.32p . Aspect map shows that there is a distinct variation in directions of slopes in two banks of Pindar river depending on the structural control and lineament. Hence, it can be concluded that geoprocessing techniques act as a dominant tool to interpret surface terrain with help of remote sensing data.

Keywords: GIS, Surface terrain, SRTM, Aspect Map, Relief.

RIVER EROSION AND CHANGING COURSE OF RIVER SAPTAMUKHI AND MURIGANGANA OF NAMKHANA ISLANAD

SubhamitaDhara M.Sc. 3rd Semester, CU (Geography) Email: [email protected] & Dr.BirajKantiMondal Assistant Professor of Geography Netaji Subhas Open University Email: [email protected]

The Indian Sundarban belongs to the part of the Ganga delta and Namkhana Islands is in the active part of that vicinity under Namkhana block. This Namkhana Island is constantly under the threat due to natural and anthropogenic causes. There are continuous changes upon earth surface by a variety of natural and anthropological agent’s activities. These agents cut, carry, away and deposit the materials from land surface. Running water has higher capacity of erosion than the other geomorphologic agents. The main two rivers channel (Saptamukhi and

[ 55 ] Muriganga) of Namkhana Island is continuously changing due to geomorphic, climatic agents and human activities influenced in the surrounded region. This changes identification and river bank erosion is the main objective of the present paper with constructive suggestions for control the river bank erosion and shifting of . As the GIS (Geographic Information System) is a computer based tool for mapping and analyzing feature events on earth and RS (Remote Sensing) is the art and science of making measurements of the earth using sensors on airplanes or satellites. This RS and GIS technology integrates common database operations, statistical analysis, preparation of maps etc. The present paper deals with the preparation of land use and land cover map to identify river bank erosion of Namkhana Island by using these GIS and RS knowledge. The advance Remote Sensing data and Topographical maps are implemented for obtaining changes of land use and land cover along with the river course shifting with erosion over the years in mentioned river system. The comparative analysis explains the changes in the river bank due to various natural and manmade activities like flood, water encroachment, sand excavation, removal the vegetation cover and fertile soil excavation and its environmental impacts in the surrounded arena and its inhabitants.

Keywords: River bank erosion, River course, Land use, Land cover, RS, GIS, Environmental impact

AN APPRAISAL OF THE INDUSTRIAL WORKERS IN HOWRAH MUNICIPAL CORPORATION

Smritilekha Bhattacharya M.Sc. (Geography) Email: [email protected]

Howrah, located on the west bank of Hooghly Rive,is the second largest city in West Bengal. It is a twin city of Kolkata and has important for its industrial scenario. Most of the industries of HMC is located in the wards22,25,43 & 49 and therefore, an in depth investigation about the industrial workers about their socio-economic conditions was made in the present study. The present paper attempts to analyze the present scenario of industrial workers in Howrah Municipal Corporation with special concentration to the mentioned wards. All the work has been prepared based on both primary and secondary data and analyzing by statistical applications and GIS techniques. The presents paper deals with various problems faced often by the industrial workers like lower wages, nature of hard working, overtime work, lack of facilities, types of medical facilities and medical leave,

[ 56 ] polluted environment, lack of technical knowledge which are the major hindrance to the industrial development of HMC. This also led to low standard of living of the workers which on the contrary affects the progress of industrial sector. A small comparison between the big industry and small industry workers has also mentioned here. The paper also tries to find out the perceptions of the respondent workers about the betterment of the scenario through solving these problems.

Key words: Industrial workers, standard of living, hindrance, pollution, environment, HMC

MICRO LEVEL STUDY ON IMPACT ANALYSIS OF MGNREGA TO UPLIFT THE RURAL SECTOR OF SOUTH 24 PARGANAS

Rima Das M. Sc. (Geography), University of Calcutta E-mail: [email protected]

National Rural Employment Guarantee (NREGA), afterward renamed as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (MGNREGA) in 2005, is one of the largest employment generating programme in rural India. The act provides a legal guarantee for 100 days of employment in every financial year to adult members of any rural household (one person in one household). The MGNREGA is expected to enhance people’s livelihood security on a sustained basis by developing economic and social infrastructure in rural areas. This paper focuses on an in-depth micro level study of the betterment and up gradation of economic status and livelihood standard of job card holders. An facet assessment of community level assets (such as rural roads, water bodies etc.) created through MGNREGA and sustainability issues of those created assets in Maipith Baikunthapur Gram Panchayats (GP) of Block of South 24 Parganas district. The GIS and statistical techniques are applied here to analyze the collected primary and secondary data. The present study followed the methodology of questionnaire survey, interactive sessions with the job card holders during the field work in the study area. The paper also recommend some possible awareness increasing options for enhancing asset creation and sustainability issues to raise the standard of socio-economic stipulation of the rural poor.

Keywords: MGNREGA, GP, rural asset, micro-level study, job card, assessment, GIS

[ 57 ] VULNERABILITY STATUS OF GHORAMARA ISLAND AND PROBABLE ALTERNATIVES

Sajal Ghosh Lecturer (Contractual) Gour Mohan Sachin Mandal Mahavidyalaya Email:[email protected] & Dr. Biraj Kanti Mondal Assistant Professor of Geography Netaji Subhas Open University Email: [email protected]

The Ghoramara Island is a part of Sagar Island and belongs to the active deltaic part of river Hugli. This island was connected with the Sagar Island till 1903 and now located at 18.36 nautical miles away from dock in Hugli estuary. Though the British started inhabiting the island during 1811, the locale was established with the help of the ‘Sagar Island Society’. The island was mostly inhabited by the immigrants from the coastal area of Midnapore and others parts of Bengal. This island is under severe threat of erosion and has already lost almost 50% of its area in last four decades. This led to the submergence of a wide area of this island that consisted of land of agriculture and settlement. Consequently, having lost their lands, the peasants and farmers of the Island turned in to landless cultivators and daily labourers. So, it was sheer consequence of crisis of occupation as their main occupations were agriculture and fishing. Thus, the livelihood pattern of the inhabitants of Ghoramara Island became vulnerable by losing their own houses and lands and often they are bound to rehabilitate in the Sagar Island. To get rid of this vulnerable situation, an immediate step is necessary to prevent the erosion and thereby find an alternative occupation of the inhabitants. Eco-tourism can be an alternative solution which can be developed in the Ghoramara Island as ‘Mini ’. Thus, more employment opportunities can be created to the islanders by making the Ghoramara Island as a popular hub for the travelers. Therefore, the present paper deals with the environmental issues related to the erosion and its possessions in Ghoramara Islands.

Keywords: Erosion, Vulnerable, Ecotourism, Migration, Ghoramara Island, Mini Gangasagar

[ 58 ] BANK EROSION OF RIVER TORSA IN JAIGAON, , WEST BENGAL

Pabitra Halder Barrackpore Rastraguru Surendranath College Department of Geography, M.Sc., Semester-IV Email: [email protected]

River bank erosion means the erosion of bank materials. It is a dynamic process. Jaigaon, Alipurduar district, West Bengal is very vulnerable bank erosion affected place by the River Torsa. The main objectives of the study are to find out the places where river bank erosion was active, cause & effect analysis of bank erosion in Jaigaon and to find out the local people’s perception about bank erosion of river Torsa in Jaigaon. In the first phase of present work, the objective was to gain preliminary knowledge about physical geographical aspect of the area under study from existing literatures, maps, satellite imageries etc. In the second phase demarcation of bank erosion affected area by GPS survey, ground truth verification of bank erosion affected area by satellite image, maps and diagrams and a questationary survey of local people about their perception on bank erosion of this place was done. In the last phase report was prepared. It is found that slab failure, cantilever failure are two main active bank erosion process in Jaigaon. Main factors which are responsible for bank erosion in Jaigaon are bank material composition, bank geometry, vegetation, and man induced factor. Major bank erosion is found from Bara Mechia Bastee to mouth of the Gobarchitee (approx length is 3.81 km). According to the local people they lost their land up to two “Bigha”/family due to bank erosion for last ten years and they also replied that local authority is not much conscious about bank failure as per their need. Only some stone made regulating structure was constructed by local authority to divert & slow the water force.

[ 59 ] WETLAND CRISIS OF EASTERN KOLKATA AND ITS IMPACT ON OUR ENVIRONMENT

Payel Ghosh M.SC in Geography, (VidyasagarUniversity) E-mail:[email protected]

The continual shrinkage of wetlands through out the world is not a new phenomena and India is not an exception. There has been much more shrinkage of wetlands in east Kolkata due to man’s voracious appetite of land for urban expansion. The present study of EAST KOLKATA WETLANDS(EKW) is a unique example of innovative resource reuse system through productive activities .It is situated at the east of the metropolitan city Kolkata and thus called east Kolkata wetlands. EKW covering 12500 hectores area. This area includes around 254 sewage fed fisheries, agricultural and garbage farming field and some built up area. The approach of this study is multi faced and covers the following aspects: The evolution of the system of waste water recycling through indigenous methods and their integration with pisiculture and other activities. The legal framework and management practices for the conservation and ‘wise use’ of these wetlands. The strategies and policies for urban use of these wetlands. The resource recovery system developed by the local people through using waste water from the city, is the largest in the world and unique of its type long back this area used to be a buffer zone; later the urban waste, both solid garbage and sewage started to be dumped here. Consequently the practice of sewage fed pisiculture and agriculture made this area a natural waste recycling region. Waste water flows through fish ponds. The ponds facilitate a wide range of physical, biological and chemical processes which helps improve the quality of the water. East Kolkata wetlands is known as the ‘kidney of the city’. In 2002,eastklkata wetlands has been recognized a wetland of international significance (RAMSAR SITE).But due to pressure of population there will be a little chance of survival of the existing wetlands. The past neglect, inadequate monitoring, bad planning and urbanization have reduced the east Kolkata wetlands to a minimum. Now we come to make a coordinated approach to check this trend and use carefully the wetlands without disturbing the ecological balance.

Keywords: East Kolkata wetlands, Environmental indicator, Ramsar site.

[ 60 ] CHANGING PATTERN OF RURAL URBAN MIGRATION: AN ANALYSIS OF INTER STATE MIGRATION FROM PURVANCHAL TO INDUSTRIAL PART OF WEST BENGAL

Rajesh Das Assistant Professor of Geography, Kishore BharatiBhaginiNivedita College Email: [email protected] & Dr. Snehamanju Basu Associate Professor, Lady Brabourne College

Introduction : Purvanchal is a geographic region of northern India, which comprises the eastern end of Uttar Pradesh and western end of Bihar, bounded by Nepal to the north, Indian state Bihar to the east, Bagelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh state to the south, the Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh to the west and the end of Lower Doab(the Kanpur-Fatehpur-Allahabad region) in Uttar Pradesh to its southwest. Present study is based on the migrant residing and settled in the Hooghly Industrial Belt of the West Bengal. People migrated from Eastern and Western parts of Purvanchal are included under this study. Objective: 1. To find out the reasons of migration. 2. To discuss the nature and changing pattern of migration Method: present study is based on the descriptive and analytical approach. the former is based on the literature review and history of migration in the region while for the later part of study samples are collected on the basis of stratified purposive sampling. Results: The migration of people from this region can be divided into two stages. Pre independence and post independence period. Firstly, people migrated from this region to major part of Calcutta either to establish a business or for employment as unskilled labour due to reason that Kolkata was one of the major centres of economic activity during British period. In the later phase people attracted by the large opportunities of employment people started to settle down in nearby jute mills of Hooghly. The second stage of migration started due to large population, slow economic growth, agricultural mechanisation, and the closure of sugar mills have led to increased unemployment, social and political discontent, and some unrest in the region compelled people to migrate. In the second phase migration of skilled and unskilled labour occurred along with huge population engaged in service sector.

[ 61 ] IDENTIFICATION OF DEGRADED VEGETATION COVER IN NORTH KOLKATA

Ria Das M.A. (Geography) & Diploma in Applied GIS & Remote Sensing Email:[email protected]

Vegetation cover has immense importance to maintain the environmental balance of any particular area. But in modern times when the rate of urbanizationis phenomenal mainly in developing countries, the adverse effects of city life are observed very clearly. The North Kolkata,particularly the Sobhabazar its surroundings area is perfect concept of vintage city, where the plan city is far away to see, as a result though they are river facing area still crowded, polluted and compact. In this part of Kolkata, where Hooghly Riverbelongs to the west part, sharp vegetation degradation is very promptly noticed. In this area, we can find basically linear shaped trees beside roads but actually these are stressed vegetation. In last 10 years almost 44.26 percent vegetation removed due to many reasons. Construction of high rise building, small scale industry, road broadening and locality extension are the responsible threats to the vegetation reduction in the area. Moreover, most of the trees are very oldand new trees are not planted and as a result the area has gone through degradationof greenery day by day. Only source of new plantation is the city beautification process, but this process also not able to fulfill the required vegetation cover of the city. Nowadays, the rapid population growth tendency, industrial demandetc are the hindrance for fresh greenery, as well as a fresh environment. Therefore, an in depth analysis was attempt to find out the degraded vegetation coverage and its possible outcomes in the North Kolkata in the present paper. The paper deals with the two wards (19 & 20) of Kolkata Municipal Corporation as the case study. Geoinformatics is the key solicitation technique to identify the degraded vegetation cover in the study area.

Key words:Degraded vegetation Cover, Kolkata, Urban Greenery,Geoinformatics.

[ 62 ] IMPLICATION OF GIS IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY OF SLUM OF CHETLA, KOLKATA

Tinni Dutta M.Sc. (Geography)& Assistant Teacher Beltala Girls’ School (Day Primary) Email: [email protected]

Slums are very common phenomena of Kolkata and it is a complex by nature due to so many environmental factors. The slum area of Chetla was chosen for the present study because of its unique settings and historical importance among the Kolkata slums. The study was conducted in two wards 74 and 82 of KMC. The work has been equipped based on primary and secondary database along with the application of some statistical techniques and GIS. Both the ward comprise by low class residency along the bank of river Ganga. These two wards are the inhabitants of about 42 thousand populations and here the female sex ratio is high than male. Literacy rate is very poor in these wards as it shows more dependency in middle age group and large family size. Most of the houses are one stored, single room and pucca type and they concentrated in a place sharing with one toilet. They are suffering from water logging, open drains and shortage of drinking water. This disastrous condition causes of many diseases. KMC provides many facilities for slum dwellers through many governmental schemes still the living condition of the whole region are modest. The effect of air pollution is noticed here mostly due to the vehicular pollution which creates dangerous diseases. Balanced and decentralized urban environs can ensure the proper habitation and rehabilitation of people also need to improve for ensures the proper standard of living of slum dwellers.

Keywords: Slum, Kolkata, environmental condition, standard of living, pollution

[ 63 ] CAUSES AND ADVERSE EFFECTS OF ARSENIC CONTAMINATION IN SELECTED DISTRICTS OF WEST BENGAL AND ITS SUGGESTIVE MEASURES

Bapan Biswas Email: [email protected] Somnath Mondal Email: [email protected] Students, M.Sc. in Geography, University of Kalyani Kalyani-741235, Nadia, West Bengal

In the present time arsenic contamination in groundwater is a serious world wide issue and now it becomes hazard in West Bengal and also in the Gangetic delta, the biggest arsenic hazard in the world. The standard level of arsenic in groundwater is 0.01mg/l (WHO). In India this level is 0.05 mg/l. Based on the arsenic concentration found in groundwater, according to Planning commission of India, South24Parganas, North24Parganas, Maldah, Nadia, Murshidabad, Barddhaman and Hooghly those seven districts of West Bengal are very much affected by the contamination of arsenic with water. Although the levels of arsenic in water vary across the seven districts. In South24Pargana the level of arsenic is highest (0.06-3.20mg/l) than other districts. All data are collected from planning commission of India 2007. Descriptive statistics and GIS software have been used to present the major findings. Ideal environment, geological structure mainly alluvial and deltaic sediments of Gangetic delta, industrial activities etc. are the main sources of generate arsenic. Adverse effect of arsenic on human health is slow but dangerous. That’s why a large number of human life are faced this poison. Not only the human lives but also animals, plants and other live organisms affected by the adverse impact of arsenic. This slow poison can be flow generation to generation. Skin cancer, Black foot, Keratosis and also other disease is caused by drinking of arsenic contaminated water. Those types of disease are found in large number in those seven districts of West Bengal. Arsenic hazard is a great threat for future generation. To come out from this situation it is very need to take proper steps by the West Bengal government and also local level authority. Afterall the effects of arsenic on human health could be control by increasing awareness of people.

Keywords: Alluvial sediments, arsenic contamination, blackfoot, Gangetic sediments

[ 64 ] DYNAMICS OF PERI-URBAN AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND FARMERS’ ADAPTIVE BEHAVIOUR IN KOLKATA METROPOLITAN AREA

Shrabana Mazumder Department of Geography, Barasat Government College, Barasat-700124, India Email: [email protected]

This paper describes adaptation of agricultural management practices due to structural changes in the urban periphery of Kolkata Metropolis. We investigate structural-change drivers along with the most common types of adaptation realized by peri-urban farmers and the corresponding environmental impacts. For this purpose both qualitative and quantitative data was collected through structured questionnaire survey. From this study we found that increasing costs for agricultural inputs like labour and land have motivated farmers to intensify water, machine and chemical use, thereby creating problematic environmental impacts. In addition, farmers also resort to part time farming and organize efforts to share family labour. Based on these findings, we discuss agricultural policies and strategies that may enable better integration of farming into the on-going process of urban expansion.

Keywords: peri-urban agriculture development; farmers’ adaptive behaviour; resource use trends

DRINKING WATER FACILITY IN KALYANI MUNICIPALITY AND ITS SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT: A STUDY IN URBAN GEOGRAPHY

Pijus Kanti Ghosh M.Sc. (Ex- Student of Kalyani University) [email protected]

The demand of urban water supply service is increasing rapidly as globalization accelerates economic development and brings improvements in living. Provision of reliable and safe water supply to urban area is an essential urban amenities for overall economic and social development. Kalyani municipality is a high population

[ 65 ] concentration area so timely and regular supply of water is considered necessssary. The supply of safe drinking water is essential for maintenance of good health quality of urban dwellers. This paper emphasis on the source of drinking water, house connection, time of getting water, quality of water and pumps, Composite concentration of drinking water facilities, Density of pipe length, water pollution, problems and problems related prospects. The drinking water supply status in Kalyani municipal area is well in terms of coverage at the habitations and in terms of service at the households. For fulfill the objectives of this paper both primary and secondary data have been used. Primary data and information are collected from the urban dwellers and municipal authorities. Secondary data and information are collected through Census of India, municipality website & various journal and papers. To fulfill the objectives of this study some statistical techniques and QGIS software has been used. So here are some solutions to overcome this situation.

RIVER BANK EROSION IMPLICATION ON LANDUSE CHANGE AND MANAGEMENT THE PROBLEM% A CASE STUDY OF CHARJIRAT

Puja Ghosh (MA Student Geography) Krishnagar Government College, University Of Kalyani Email: [email protected]

Channeled flow of natural water is called river. River bank erosion is a common phenomenona which caused many problems. Due to bank erosion, the shifting of river channel is also occurred which caused landuse changes in the adjacent area of river bank. It is very necessary to understand the major landuse changes and findout the remedies to solve the problem. Our present study is emphasized at investigating the landuse changes of charjiratmouza% a part of sanyal char, nadia district, along with the bank of bhagirathi- by using geospatial techniques. The survey of india topographic maps and landsat images were primarily used to extract channel shifting and landuse changes. Also the rate of landuse changes are estimated by overlay analysis using gis techniques. vThe main objectives of this paper is% ØTo findoutmajor landuse changes ØTo recognize major land oriented problems ØTo mitigate land related problems through better management practices vMethods used for this study are% ØCharjiratmouza is selected for field survey for collection of primary level data.

[ 66 ] ØField survey helps to record the demography, Household, economic activities and also the perception of local people about the causes, consequences and remedial measures of river bank erosion in the study area. ØUsing landsat data and images, find out the landuse changes from past to present condition. ØFor diagrammatic representation, several cartographic techniques as well as RS and GIS techniques are used to depict major landuse changes in the existing charlands of charjiratmouza etc. As a result this study indicates the gradual change in landuse system because most of the land area lost into river course. It also affect on the shape as well as agriculture practice of charjirat mouza. So, at the end of the study it is very necessary to find out the remedies for management this problem.

STATUS OF GENDER BASED WORKFORCE IN DIFFERENT BLOCKS OF HOOGHLY DISTRICT

Sulata Hembrem Assistant professor of Geography, Degree College

Introduction: The district of Hooghly derived its name from the town of Hooghly on the west bank of the Hooghly River about 40 km north of Kolkata. This town was a river port in the fifteenth century. According to the 2011 census Hooghly district has a population of 5,520,389 this gives it a ranking of 16th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 1,753 inhabitants per square kilometer (4,540/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 9.49%.Hugli has a sex ratio of 958 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 82.55%. According to 2001 census, Sex ratio of the district (947) is well above the State (934) and country average (933) and it is improving over the years. However, there is wide variation in sex ratio across various blocks and of the district. In Hooghly district, the sex ratio is high, above 1000 in Chanditala-I and Khanakul II, while it is low in Hooghly-Chinsurah. have a sex ratio higher than 950, while six Tarakeswar, , Chandanagar are below 900.

Objective: Present paper is an inquiry to find out the status of work force based on gender. The study is an effort to find out the status of women empowerment through analysis of different aspects of GDI.

Methodology: study is based on the analysis of District Development Report and

[ 67 ] Census data. Data have been analyzed through statistical techniques based on software like “R” and maps are prepared with the help of QGIS Software.

Results: The sex ratio is adverse in the urban areas than the rural areas. One of the reasons for such pattern is migration of men from rural to urban areas in search of work. Gender disparity is a major issue and a serious concern for the empowerment of women. Generally, women are more behind the men in respect of educational attainment as well as employment

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT WITH THE APPLICATION OF GIS

Pratishruti Dey LiDAR data specialist at Nakshatech Pvt. Ltd. Email: [email protected]

The present paper deals with the management process of environmental aspect with the application of LiDAR data using Geoinformatics. Environmental management is inherently a spatial endeavor. In this process GIS and remote sensing are most helpful. For remote sensing LiDAR classification, photogrammentry these things are help to classify various environmental and physical data. Every LiDAR point can have a classification assigned to it that defines the type of object that has reflected the laser pulse. LiDAR points can be classified into a number of categories including bare earth or ground, top of canopy and water. Also we can identify power lines, small road features, schools, hospital trees etc and identify and classify them with the help of different GIS softwares like ArcGIS, Microstation, mapinfo. For LiDAR the different classes are defined using numeric integer codes in the LAS. File. LAS formats are 1.1,1.2,1.3 and 1.4.ArcGIS supports all versions of LAS.LAS version 1.4 is the latest LAS version. Greater the degree of classification is the more useful data. However, this can become prohibitively expensive because more classification means more procession and more human intervention. But the LAS dataset introduced in ArcGIS 10.1, provides a simple way to access LAS files directly without importing.

[ 68 ] MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY TRIBAL POPULATION OF SOUTH 24 PARGANAS, WEST BENGAL, INDIA-AN ETHNO BOTANICAL SURVEY

Ranajit Sardar Assistant Professor, Acharya prafulla Chandra College. Email: [email protected]

Our country is commonly called the Botanical Garden of the world, owing to her wealth of herbal medicines. India with its great topographic and climatic diversity has a very rich and diverse flora and fauna. The uses of plants as medicines have been practiced from an ancient time. From around1500 B.C. Rig Veda is one of the important earliest available documents which emphasizes about herbal medicinal knowledge. Later on Indian herbalists such as MaharshiCharaka and Sushruta worked in search of different herbal plant parts for different aliments of human body. Later on, it is reported that traditional healers use near about 2500 plant species and 100 species of plants serve as regular sources of medicine.

World Health Organization has state that 80% of the world’s population depends on traditional medicine for its primary health care and has become indispensable for its survival 2. Since times immemorial, plants have been put to medicinal use by the traditional herbalists, Hakims, Vaidays, Ayurvedicpractioners and the common man. Herbal medicine is the study and use of medicinal properties of plants therefore medicinal plants constitute precious resources for mankind. During the past one century, there has been a rapid extension of allopathic medicinal treatment in India but still now the use of natural products as medicine, especially plant products are widely used among various tribal people.

Particularly in the remote areas of West Bengal with few health facilities. The information relating to the medicinally useful species and their uses along with traditional knowledge and practices are very fragmentary 10-18. The present study is thus an attempt to document different plant species of South 24 Parganas district used by the local health healers to cure different ailments.

Key word: Rig Veda, Traditional herbalists, Hakims, Vaidays, Ayurvedic

[ 69 ] ASSESSMENT OF INTER-WARD DISPARITIES OF URBAN FACILITIES, SERVICES, AND SANITATION AND ITS ADVERSE IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT: A CASE STUDY AT KALYANI MUNICIPALITY, NADIA, WEST BENGAL

Dona Pramanick Student, M.A. in Geography, University of Kalyani. E-mail: [email protected] & Ankita Dutta Student, M.Sc. in Geography, University of Kalyani E-mail: [email protected]

Sanitation system as well as urban facilities and services should be same in every corner of a town. But rapid increasing population is generating the problem of inadequate availability of urban facilities and social services. Thus it creates socio-economic disparity and unequal access to basic urban facilities, services and sanitary facilities in a particular area. In this context, the inter word disparity of urban facilities, services and sanitation of Kalyani municipal area have been drawn. The focus of this study is to understand the urban facilities, services and sanitation; to measure the inter word disparity of availability of those facilities in Kalyani municipal area and its crucial impact on environment; to make some way to overcome form this problem and bring the environmental sustainability. To fulfill the objectives of this study the primary data have been collected by simple random sampling technique. Then the collected data are analyzed by simple statistical techniques, cartographic representation and QGIS software has been used. The secondary data have been collected from Kalyani Municipality, various open source of books, authentic journals, websites. Between different area of Kalyani Municipality like Kanthaltala, KalyaniSimanta (word no.3) and Ghoshpara, Central Park (word no.12) have huge differences of education, occupation, income which influence the distribution and proper utilization of urban facilities, services and sanitary facilities, badly affects the environment. These disparities make a complication to evaluate the overall standard of living or quality of life of the study area and may become problematic for further planning in future. So government should take some effective steps to overcome the problems.

Keywords: Environmental sustainability, Kalyani Municipality, sanitation, socio-economic disparity, urban facilities and services

[ 70 ] SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT BY POTENTIAL MICROBIAL STRAIN

Sankar Narayan Sinha Environmental Microbiology Research Laboratory Department of Botany, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, West Bengal, India Email: sinhasn62Eyahoo.co.in

In the present technoeconomic era, the energy and environmental crises developed due to huge amount of cellulosis materials are disposed as waste. Municipal solid waste is composed of 40-50% cellulose, 9-12% hemicelluloses and 10-15% lignin on a dry weight basis. The high amount of cellulose in municipal solid waste is an ideal organic waste for the growth waste for the growth of most of microorganisms as well as composting by potential microbes. By the year 2047, municipal solid waste germination in India is expected to reach

300 million tons and land requirement for disposal of this waste would be 169.6 Km 2 . Unscientific disposal causes an adverse impact on all components of the environment and human health. Microorganisms perform their metabolic processeses rapidly and with remarkable specificity under ambient conditions, catalyzed by their diverse enzyme- mediated reactions. An enzyme alternative to harsh chemical technologies has led to intensive exploration of natural microbial diversity to discover enzymes. There is a wide spectrum of microorganisms which can produce the variety of enzymes like cellulose under appropriate conditions. In the present study, congo red test was performed for the screening of microorganism and after selecting a potential strains it was further used for biodegradation of organic municipal solid waste. Forty nine out of 250 different microbes tested (165 belong to fungi and 85 to bacteria) produce cellulase enzyme and among these Trichodermaviridae was found to be a potential strain in the secondary screening. T. viridae had promising effects in the decomposition of organic municipal solid waste, resulting in a greater bioconversion of the original material than the control.

[ 71 ] RISK ZONE MAPPING OF HIV BRIDGE POPULATION IN MURSHIDABAD AND ITS MANAGEMENT IN GIS DOMAIN

Subrata Biswas Part Time Teacher, Dept. of Geography, S.C.B.C. College, Lalbagh, MSD, Email: [email protected] & Tania Biswas ART councillor, Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital, , MSD, Email: [email protected]

To be successful, Risk Zone Mapping is highly required for HIV control and mitigation in Murshidabad district. AIDS epidemic brings the anthropogenic disaster in a serious way in our society. Basically this area is majorly affected by the HIV Bridge Population regarding AIDS epidemic issue. These people are also characterised by migration in temporal scale. This paper attempts to account and correlate the nature of HIV Bridge Population with that migratory amount in Murshidabad, measuring its stand point against general population, preparing the Risk Zone Map (RZM) for proper monitoring and management of AIDS epidemic, an anthropogenic hazard. Simple methodology is followed to complete this paper. The co-ordinate values are collected with the help of Geoinformatics at the time of primary data collection. Whereas, the secondary database is collected from the survey of different NGOs – that are related with such kind of HIV programmes. Besides these, some statistical techniques have been used for analysing the present scenario regarding this matter. The result of this study will provide sufficient AIDS epidemic spatial information diagrammatically of Murshidabad District which is very helpful for better understanding the future structure, pathway as well as put some mitigation lights through using Risk Zone Map (RZM) in GIS domain. Therefore, GIS integrated mapping technique play a vital role to evaluate the present condition and future tendency of AIDS epidemic in the light of HIV Bridge Population in Murshidabad District and also maintain a strong database regarding this anthropogenic issue.

Key Word: GIS domain, HIV Bridge Population, Risk Zone Map (RZM)

[ 72 ] SOME ASPECTS OF URBAN HAZARDS IN CLIMATE CHANGE SCENARIO IN AND AROUND BASIRHAT TOWN

Sabyasachi Das Assistant Teacher of Geography Don Bosco High School, Krishnagar, Nadia Email:[email protected]

With the increased rate of climate change, urban scape experiences extreme events in urban space. In this study, the town of Basirhat is taken for study of such hazards. Basirhat is a small urban centre located on the right bank of river Ichamati and was notified as a town in 1869.Presently the population of Basirhat is about 1 lakh 27 thousand and the main occupation of the inhabitants are trade and commerce. But nearly 41% of land is engaged in agriculture. The objective of this paper is to identify the nature and rate of changes in the parametric system of climate in and around Basirhat town. For this purpose, four parameters of climate are selected and the data related to these parameters for last 63 years are collected from IMD.The projected data for Basirhat Grid as well form an institutional data set from a automated weather station established at Basirhat. The collected data being put into time frame analysis is used for relating these parameters with hazard events in four Service sectors. These include: 1. Health Disorder 2. Drainage and Flooding 3. Water Supply and Sanitation 4. Transport Problems The information on past events are collected from 627 samples in Focus Group Meets at Ward No. 18, 21 and 22.The results of participation are presented here. The findings of the study are: 1. Extreme events are more significant than natural changes in climatic conditions 2. The System, the institutions and the agents show critical gaps in all four sectors 3. Threshold values are important in determining hazard sequences 4. Hazard Resilience Strategies are significant to combat

[ 73 ] WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION OF HAORA DISTRICT: AN APPRAISAL

Rajib Patra Guest Lecturer, Ramsaday college, Amta, Haora Email: [email protected]

Women empowerment is a multidimensional concept, which covers every aspects of women’s life. A nation’s prosperity and development rests on the sound foundation of its people; and women empowerment plays a vital role in this regard. Achieving universal development in rural and urban areas of Haora district is a urgent need. The present study exhibits the spatio-temporal variations of development as well as women empowerment of Haora district. Women constitute almost 50% of the world’s population but India has shown disproportionate sex ratio whereby female’s population has been comparatively lower than males. As far as their social status is concerned, they are not treated as equal to men in all the places. In the western societies, the women have got equal right and status with men in all walks of life. But gender disabilities and discriminations are found in India even today and Haora district is no exception. The study has some specific objectives, like analyse the proportion of economic participation of women and the present social conditions of female of the district. Both primary and secondary data will be explored for the present study

In the globalized era of 21st century there are still quite a few areas of India as well as West Bengal where women empowerment is largely lacking behind and Haora district is no exception. There are several government programmes and NGOs working in this regard, still a wide gap exists in the study area. Poverty and illiteracy add some extra complications in the real ground scenario. To solute the problem, the first and foremost priority should be given to the education of women and women should be allowed to work and should be provided enough safety and support to work.

Keywords: Women empowerment, participation, regional variation, development.

[ 74 ] NOTES

[ 75 ] NOTES

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