The coastal zone is the area of interaction between land and
sea. It includes both terrestrial as well as marine resources, which may be
renewable as well as non-renewable. This paper assessed and cartographically
analysed the impact of recent coastal geo-environmental hazards on coastal
resources and also human life. Cyclonic storms, high wave action, tidal bore,
coastal flood and also coastal erosion are the main geo-environmental hazards
over the Bay of Bengal coastal area, especially the Kanthi coastal tract of
west Bengal. Intensive visits to the study area, an extensive literature
survey, and experimental documentary analysis were the three key measures in
preparing this paper and conducting this study. Digha - Junput coastal tract
over which this study was concentrated is a part of the Kanthi coastal plain of
Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, India. Sea surface temperature over a period of
50 years was observed through this study to be changing up to the magnitude of
about 0.019oC/year over the Bay of Bengal between the period from 1972 to 2005.
As a result, the accelerated trend for the genesis and favourable conditions
for the severe cyclones of 1978, 1988, 1989, 1995, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and
2013. The local sea level has risen, on average 15 cm/last 3 decades. High wave
action and coastal floods due to cyclonic storms and also high rainfall during
the monsoon seasons (In record and evidence of the highest sea gauge during the
last 30 years generally increasing which is relatively 2 m to 3 m) have been affected
to coastal environment. On the other hand, coastal erosion is another
geomorphic hazard identified in this study to be due to high wave action during
the cyclonic period and also the monsoonal season. As a result, about 25 m to
50 m/year of coastal land has been eroded at Digha-Shankarpur and adjoining
coastal tract. For this reason, the popular and famous beach tourism spot
Digha-Mandarmoni of West Bengal has been extremely affected and also destroyed
the gentle sea beach in recent times. Agricultural crops mainly food grains,
vegetables, cashew nuts, betelvine and many commercial crops and horticulture
have been affected by the geo-environmental hazards of this area. So, resource
depletion and resource crisis are the main problems in this area in recent
times. On the other hand, numerous geo-environmental hazards throughout the
year have attacked the coastal inhabitants. For this reason, the coastal people
of the Kanthi coastal area have been suffering continually during the last 50
years. As a result, thousands of people are environmental refugees. The
situation can be tackled by enhancing risk preparedness and the adaptive
capacity of vulnerable communities. So, it is right for the planning of coastal
zone management by the proper and cartographic techniques.
Author(s) Details:
Subhankar Patra,
Department of Geography, Seva Bharati Mahavidyalaya, India.
Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/EIEGES-V8/article/view/13700
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