Effects of Changes in Wetland Ecosystem: Experiences from Chuchura-Magra, Singur and Serampur-Uttarpara Blocks of Hugli District, West Bengal

Transformation of land is relatively a rapid process determined by the local users through the policies to be proved more beneficial in economic terms which sometimes do not consider such transformation on holistic basis. In riverine plain areas, there is a close inter relationships between agriculture, settlements, natural channels and wetlands. In recent times the degradation and loss of wetlands is more rapid than the past. The determinants of wetland ecosystem degradation include construction of infrastructural facilities, conversion of land, eutrophication and pollution, and excessive water harvesting from surface and subsurface sources to meet the increasing human needs. Transformation of natural land to agricultural land and agricultural to commercial or industrial land has a direct impact on the wetlands which is very crucial in terms of both economic and ecological values. Chinsurah-Magra, Singur and Serampur-Uttarpara Blocks of Hugly District of West Bengal are endowed with fertile agricultural lands, industrial complexes and wetlands rich in biodiversity which are facing adverse effects of short run development policies related to land transformation particularly for the wetlands. This paper is an attempt to explain the degradation and loss of wetland ecosystem, essence of change in the strategies in policies of land transformation and development and reclamation of wetlands with necessary primary and secondary information and their analysis and interpretation.