Swift flowing rivers causing threat to environment in West Bengal

Kolkata, May 29 (ANI): Swift flowing rivers that change their course frequently and result in massive soil erosion have become serious threat to environment in West Bengal.

Frequent landslides and sediment in the rivers caused by the settlement of debris on riverbeds carried from the mountains lead to rivers changing their course.

Rivers carry rocks, boulders, clay, mud and other sediments from the mountain and due to loss of gradient in the plains it gets accumulated.

As a result, the riverbeds have become elevated making the water flow out of its regular course.

"Many river beds are situated at a much elevated level than the county slope. So it is very simple for the river water to flow beyond its channel creating new channels, evolution is taking place, river is shifting. That is why it can destroy everything, tea gardens, valuable forests, settlements and arable land," said Subir Sarkar, a Geologist.

"The eastern Himalayan belt is the most fragile part of the Himalayas, youngest part of the Himalayas. Hence there are frequent landslides," said Animesh Bose, a local resident.

As per the surveys, riverbeds of rivers such as the Jayanti and the Padma in the area have elevated by as much as three metres during the last 20 years.

The change of course in the rivers leading to erosion in forestland is a major environmental hazard causing threat to millions of indigenous species of plants and animals.

Geologists believe that the only solution to the problem lies in the management of the catchment area.

Deforestation needs to be checked. Any kind of construction work in the area needs to be done under proper regulation and strict implementation of the EIA, the Environmental Impact Assistance. (ANI)