River bank erosion and human displacement – a case study of three decades of bhagawangola-ii block of murshidabad district, West Bengal

In India, river bank erosion has become one of the most significant environmental problems. This is one of the critical public concerns in India at least in some states like West Bengal especially in the Lower Gangetic Plain. River bank erosion has a long-term consequence on human life. The victims are compelled to displace as they become destitute. In this paper, an attempt has been made to study about previous trends of riverbank erosion, its impact on riverine inhabitants and possible preventive and remedial measures required to solve such a complex and multi-dimensional problem along river Ganga of Bhagawangola II block, Murshidabad district. Analysis of data as obtained from the representative sample of erosion victims as well as the secondary sources of data clearly indicates that the hazard victims are to face socio-economic insecurity due to loss of agricultural land, become unemployed and that a holistic approach to save the erosion victims needs to be undertaken for a permanent solution of the problem.