coastal geography of sankarpur,dadanpatrabar,digha and ramnagar blocks

Acknowledgement

Following persons & organizations are acknowledged for their help cooperation at different stages of the Dissertation Work based on field work (2009):-

Field Supervisor Dr. A. K. Paul of Geography Department, V. U. Other Faculty Members – Dr. R. K. Maity, Dr. S. Chatterjee, Mrs. N. Das, MR. U. Roy of Geography Department, V. U. Field Assistant Mr. P. K. Shit of Geography Department, V. U. Various Supporting Stuffs & Field Assistant of D. D. E., V. U. Cooperation provided by many villagers in the different stages of field work. Cooperation provided by the Hoteliers during the staying at Digha. Cooperation provided by many Fishermen at different coastal stations.

Finally, we also acknowledge the help & cooperation provided by my family members for the preparation of field report.

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XSignature

Introduction

Location of the study area:- Our study area is located in the coastal area in the coastal part of Purba Medinipur distirict of West Bengal & at the northern part of Bay of Bengal. The area is in the sandy coastal plain of the southern part of West Bengal. The area is bounded by Orissa coastal area in the northern side; Rasulpur river in the eastern side; Orissa on the Western side; Bay of Bengal on the southern side. The latitudinal and longitudinal extent of Purba Medinipur is respectively.The East-West length of the area is about 50Km. and north-south extension is about 5-10Km.

Description of the study area:- The area of the district is 4259sq. Km.(2001 census). Tamluk is the district headquarters. The population of the district is 4417377 (2001 census).The population density is 1028 persons/sq. Km. (2001 census).There are 25 blocks. Our study area included 3 blocks:-

Ramnagar -I, Ramnagar -II, Contai -I.

Administrative Blocks

Shoreline Length (in Km.)

Area Visited

Digha 6 Udaipur, digha (old and new), digha “mohona”Ramnagar I 8 Ramnagar, digha fishery, champa chalk, gobinda basan village, gangadharpur villageRamnagar II 7 Shankarpur, chandanpur, jaldahContai I 17 Dedanpatrabar, chaulkhola, dakshin puroshattampur, sonamuhi, srilampur, mandarmani,

pichabani “mohona”

Physiography of the study area:- It’s a low lying coastal area of West Bengal. The region is mainly composed by sand but clay layer can be found under the sand layer. This shoreline is quite hard. The wester part of the area near Digha is erosional in nature while it is depositional in nature in the eastern part near Junput. The area is 1.7 to 3 m above the mean seal level. All coastal sectors are characterized by the location of various sand dune rows and series of beach ridges. The height of the sand dunes is ranging from 6m to 15m from the mean sea level.

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River system of the study area:- the eastern part of the region is bordered by Rasulpur river. This river is small in length and non-perennial. There are few small rivers like Pichabani, Jatra etc some wetlands are found in the dune area. Coastal plain area is divided into 4 main tidal channels:-

Pichabani Estuary; Jaldah Estuary; Digha Estuary; Jatra Nala.

Soil of the area:-The soil type of this area is influenced by saline water of the sea. The soil is salty and sandy in nature so the water holding capacity is low. The study area is characterized by 3 major groups of soil type:-

Sandy soil; Clayey soil; Loamy soil.

Hydrologic characteristics:- It’s characteristics along the coastal belt can be categorized as :-

Surface water storage on the low lying areas, Tidal channels with tide water flowing, Open sea water with tidal rise and fall and development of the wind waves

Climate:- The study area is located in the tropical hot and humid climate .the summer is very hot. It extends from March to June. Rainy season extends usually from June to November and finally winter extends from December to February. Summer temperature ranges between 22 degree to 35 degree Celsius and winter temperature ranges between 18 degree and 20 degree Celcius. Wind direction changes according to the arrival of the monsoon. South-West monsoon blows in summer and rainy season while north-east monsoon blows in winter season. However, the wind velocity and direction of the coastal belts are also affected by the influence of land breeze and sea breeze.Climatic extremes are followed by the attack of tropical cyclones in the monsoon season and Nor’ wester in the pre-monsoon season.

Vegetation:- Coastal vegetation types differ on the basis of salt tolerance capacity. For this reason, the study area is also characterized by Mesophytes, halophytes and xerophytes types of vegetation. Mesophytes are located on the coastal plains. Halophytes are distributed on the

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tidal flats of the river mouths, tidal channels, coastal backwaters and embayment. Xerophytes are found on the coastal sand dunes. Among the plants many exotic species are also dominant in different parts of the plains.

Population pressure:- Coastal areas attract many people of inland areas for habitation due to multiple economic options and easy access to the natural resources. For this reason, the population density ranges between 4000-5000 persons per sq. Km. in the coastal belt areas. If population density increases rapidly then wilderness of the coastal belt will be modified by the different activities of the human population.

Major economy and occupations:- There are 4 major economic options in the coastal belt:-

Costal farming of rice and other seasonal crops; Coastal marine fishing at the open sea area; Coastal fish farming in the occupied tidal flood plains; Coastal recreation and tourism activity.

There are also major occupations run by local people on the basis of livelihood support system such as agricultural labourers, fishing operators, transport and travelling companies, salt manufacturers, hoteliers, vegetable gardeners etc. Marginal economy also exists on the basis of available resources.

Objectives of the study:- Following objectives are documented for the present study:-

To study the geomorphologic diversity of the coastal belt; To analyse the coastal beach and dune profiles of the study area; To record the wind velocity, direction, temperature of air, soil and water; To compare the beach rating factors of Digha, Sankarpur, Mandarmani, Talsari sectors; To estimate the population pressure on the coastal belt; To identify the coastal vegetation types and the wet lands of the study area; To record the littoral environmental factors; To categorize the land-use conservation of the coastal belt; To measure the economic options of fishing villages and fishing harbours of the coastal villages. To identify the location of CRZ areas of the coastal belt;

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Methods of the study:-The method of the study can be tabulated in the following ways for the categorization for different stages of field work:-

Pre-field methods Field methods Post-field methodsMapping and measurements of different features of the study area

Beach profile surveys across the shorelines of the different sectors

Analysis of primary data

Procuring Toposheets from Survey of India and C.D. Block maps

Near shore geomorphologic mapping using the dumpy level, clinometers, measuring tapes.

Use of primary and secondary data for plotting the diagrams.

Procuring Thematic maps of the study area Recording the wind velocity using digital anemometer Consultation of satellite image data of the study area.

Collection of census and climate data Measuring coastal waves and tides on the coastal stations

Report writing and submission of the field documents

Identification of coastal vegetation typesTaking pictures related to our study of the study area

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Fluctuation of Wind velocity and direction at Udaipur

Time(pm)

Wind velocity (in m/sec.) Direction

4:10 3.6 3.5 3.2 3.3 3.4 4.6 5.5 5.1 5.0 4.1 SW4:20 0.8 1.1 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.7 1.9 2.0 1.9 1.7 SE4:30 4.3 5.7 3.1 2.9 3.4 3.6 3.7 3.9 3.8 3.7 SE4:40 1.2 3.3 3.7 3.8 3.6 3.4 3.5 3.5 3.6 3.4 SE4:50 2.8 2.2 2.3 2.5 3.1 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.3 2.2 SE5:00 1.3 1.7 1.9 2.0 2.2 2.8 3.5 3.5 3.7 3.5 SE5:10 2.0 1.9 1.8 2.0 2.3 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.1 SE5:20 1.9 2.0 2.2 2.1 2.3 2.7 3.1 3.1 2.9 3.1 SE5:30 1.9 2.0 2.2 2.3 2.8 2.9 3.3 3.3 3.5 3.1 SE5:40 1.3 1.6 1.9 2.3 2.7 2.9 3.2 3.2 3.3 3.4 SW

Fluctuation of wind velocity and direction at Dadanpatrabar

Time(a.m-p.m) Wind velocity (in m/sec.) Direction9:40 a.m. 4.3 4.

74.4 4.

54.2 4.1 4.

64.9 4.8 5.

2SW

10:00 a.m. 5.4 8.0

8.5 7.8

7.3 6.3 7.0

6.6 6.4 6.9

SW

10:20 a.m. 7.3 8.4

8.6 8.8

8.9 9.2 8.9

9.0 9.1 9.4

SE

10:40 a.m. 6.5 6.4

4.9 7.2

8.4 8.3 8.6

8.9 9.0 9.1

SE

11:00 a.m. 9.6 9.9

10.0 9.8

9.3 9.6 9.2

9.4 9.3 9.1

SE

11:20 a.m. 6.1 6. 6.4 6. 5 5.3 5. 5.8 5.7 5. SE

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0 7 4 611:40 a.m. 6.9 5.

65.8 6.

95.9 5.3 5.

66.1 5.9 6.

0SE

12:00 p.m. 6.9 7.0

6.2 7.1

6.4 6.2 6.8

6.7 6.9 7.5

SE

12:20 pm. 7.0 7.6

7.7 8.0

8.2 8.3 8.7

8.9 8.8 9.2

SW

The Littoral Environment observation

Station: Udaipur Date: 21.03.2009 Time(24 hrs. system): 16:15 Surf Observations:

1) Wave period: 13/minutes2) Breaker height: 1.6m3) Breaker type: Spilling breaker

Long shore currents:1. Dye distance: 15 m2. Current speed: 2 km/hour3. Current direction: NE

Rip currents (rip channel spacing in meters )

(if absent record 0): 18.5 m

Beach cusps(distance between the horns of adjacent cusps in metres)

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(if absent record 0): 9 m


Station: Dadanpatrabar Date: 22.03.2009 Time(24 hrs. system): 09:00 Surf Observations:

4) Wave period: 12/minutes5) Breaker height: 1.6 m6) Breaker type: Spilling breaker

Long shore currents:4. Dye distance: 11 m5. Current speed: 2.6 km/hour6. Current direction: SW to NE






Station: Sonamohi Date: 22.03.2009 Time(24 hrs. system): 11:15 Surf Observations:

7) Wave period: 9/minutes8) Breaker height: 1.5 m9) Breaker type: Spilling breaker

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Long shore currents:7. Dye distance: 15 m8. Current speed: 3.4 km/hour9. Current direction: SW to NE






Station: Talsari Date: 22.03.2009 Time(24 hrs. system): 16:20 Surf Observations:

10) Wave period: 9/minutes11) Breaker height: ---12) Breaker type: Spilling breaker

Long shore currents:10. Dye distance: 20 m11. Current speed: 4.6 km/hour12. Current direction: NE to SW




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Annual fishing operations at Udaipur, Talsari and Dadanpatrabar

Stations Udaipur Talsari DadanpatrabarDate 21.03.2009 22.03.2009 22.03.2009

No. of boats 70 400 200Persons per boat 6 7 7

Types of fishing net Monofil net Monofil – 65 cm,70 cm, 75 cm. Kul Bandi net all types of fish can

be caughtTotal fish catch per operation 10 kg/boat 10 kg/boat 10 kg/boat

Total per head income per month Rs.-1500 Rs.-2000 to 2500 Rs.-1500 to 1800Time of fishing operation and

maximum catchThroughout the year (mid July to

mid Sept.)Throughout the year (mid July to mid Sept.) Through the year

(Sept. to Feb. maximum)

Closing month of fishing April to May August-September (mid April to mid June by Orissa Govt. order)

End of Feb. to March

Secondary occupation Farming or nothing Nothing Farming

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Fish market Udaipur sea beach Talsari jetty LocalFish catch types Hilsha Hilsha, Parse Hilsha Hilsha, Pomphret, Gurjali, Mackerel Shrimps

Natural hazards during fishing months

Cyclone Heavy rain Nor’ wester

Environmental Impact assessment of farm fishing at Digha Sankarpur coastal sector,Kanthi coastal plain W.B.

Questionnaire Sankarpur dadanpatrabar2006 2009 2006 2009

Area under fish farms 900 acre 910 acre 700 acre under W.B.O 700 acre under W.B.OArea under wetlands (salt

marshes,tidal flats)5 bighas 5 bighas 1000 acre under salt

factory1000 acre under salt

factoryLength and height of the protective embankments

8 Km. main embankment length

15 ft deep

8 Km. main embankment length 15 ft deep

1700 acre in length and 10 ft. height

1700 acre in length and 10 ft. height

Width of the dune barrier backed by wetlands

10 m 9 m 10 m Nil due to destruction for farming

Changing tide levels and tidal ranges

3.20 m 3.40 m 3.30 m 3.40 m

Changing depth of tidal estuary and other tidal creeks

Sankarpur estuary,depth 15 ft.

Sankarpur estuary,depth 25 ft.

30ft. near Jaldah,40 ft. near Shola

30ft. near Jaldah,40 ft. near Shola

Presence of piled spoils on the banks of the channel

less more Side of estuary and on embankment

Side of estuary and on embankment

Number of homesteads on the wetland fringes

23 20 43 45

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Changing plant types More trees like Akanda

Less than yr. 2006 Few plants More trees like-Potash,Gama

Changing sediment types Less deposition More deposition More deposition Less deposition due to presence of trees

Elevation of the marsh surface 18 ft. from mean sea level

18 ft. from mean sea level

20 ft. from mean sea level 20 ft. from mean sea level

Identify the source points of pollutants into the wetland

and channels

Eutrophicated fish pond

Eutrophicated fish pond Channels are logged by water,no proper

connection to the sea

Channels are logged by water,no proper

connection to the seaRate of shoreline erosion and exposure if day banks on the

dune base

More erosion Less erosion due to embankment

Less erosion more erosion due to embankment

Area of the dune breaches and over wash fans

More dunes Less dune due to wave erosion and human

activities

More dunes Less dunes

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Beach Rating Questionnaire

Place:Udaipur Date:21.3.2009 Time:16:15

Serial no. Factors Beach rating1 Beach width <50 m Narrow 50 to 100m 100 to 150 m

√150 to 200 m >200 m Wide

2 Beach material Cobbles Sand/Cobbles Coarse Sand Medium sand √

Fine Sand

3 Beach condition Erosional √ Depositional

4 Sands softness Hard √ Soft

5 Colour of sand Grey Black Brown Lighten √ White/Pink

6 Water temperature Cold Warm √

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7 Air temperature √

8 Water colour Grey √ Aqua Blue

9 Beach shape Straight √ Pocket

10 Bathing area condition Boulders √ Fine Sand

11 Tidal range Large √ Small

12 Tidal litters on the beach Many √ None

13 Run-off out fall lines Several None √

14 Pests Common √ No Problem

15 Smell Bad odours √ Fresh Salty

16 Vegetation, dunes none √ Many

17 Presence of sea walls Large amount √ None

18 Beach crabs and shore birds None √ Plentiful

19 Building and urbanisms Over developed

√ Pristine/Wide

20 Intensity of beach use Over crowded √ Open Space

21 Access Limited √ Good

22 Amenities None √ Some

23 Car driving and horse riding √

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24 Noise e.g. crowds Much √ Little

25 Life guards None √ Present

26 Safety records(deaths) Some √ None

27 Public safety (e.g. crime) common Rare √

28 Beach festival √


Place:Dadanpatrapar Date:22.3.2009 Time:10:30

Serial no. Factors Beach rating1 Beach width <50 m Narrow 50 to 100m 100 to 150 m 150 to 200 m

√>200 m Wide

2 Beach material Cobbles Sand/Cobbles Coarse Sand Medium Sand √

Fine Sand

3 Beach condition Erosional Depositional √





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10 Bathing area condition Boulders Fine Sand √

11 Tidal range Large Small√


13 Run-off out fall lines Several None √







Pristine/Wild √





24 Noise e.g. crowds Much Little √

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26 Safety records(deaths) Some None √

27 Public safety (e.g. crime) common √ Rare



Place:Mandarmani Date:22.3.2009 Time:12:15


√150 to 200 m >200 m Wide

2 Beach material Cobbles Sand/Cobbles Coarse Sand Medium Sand Fine Sand √



5 Colour of sand Grey Black Brown √ Lighten White/Pink


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13 Run-off out fall lines Several √ None


15 Smell Bad odours Fresh Salty √


17 Presence of sea walls Large amount None √


19 Building and urbanisms Over developed √

Pristine/Wide

20 Intensity of beach use Over crowded √ √ Open Space


22 Amenities None Some23 Car driving and horse riding √

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Place: Talsari Date: 22.3.2009 Time:16:30


√150 to 200 m >200 m Wide


Fine Sand





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11 Tidal range Large Small12 Tidal litters on the beach Many None13 Run-off out fall lines Several None √







√ Pristine/Wide






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Place: Sankarpur Date: 23.3.2009 Time: 08:30

Serial no. Factors Beach rating1 Beach width <50 m Narrow

√50 to 100m 100 to 150 m 150 to 200 m >200 m Wide


Fine Sand

3 Beach condition Erosional√ Depositional

4 Sands softness Hard√ Soft

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5 Colour of sand Grey√ Black Brown Lighten White/Pink

6 Water temperature Cold √ Warm




10 Bathing area condition Boulders √ Fine Sand



13 Run-off out fall lines Several √ None







√ Pristine/Wide



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Major Findings:-

Coastal degradation at Digha, Sankarpur and Mondarmoni. Landuse conversion has exposed the people more vulnerable to marine erosion. Population pressure is rapidly increasing on the coastal belt. The traditional dwellings are suffering from the crisis of environment and natural resources. CRZ are grossly violated by tourism sector and fishery sector in the coastal belt. Coastal sand dunes are diminishing in altitude and in area. Coastal wetland ecosystems are converted into fish farming plots and rice farming plots. The beach rating factors show that they are affected severely by erosion and pollution. The hydrologic management by embankments and surface road and railway lines are affecting the coastal habitat diversity. The hight intensity tropical cyclones may produce damages to the society of the coastal belt.

Results and discussions

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Contai coastal plain is represented by coastal strand plain surfaces of Contai and Kanthi. Slow upheaval of the region ad successive shore lines regression during the Holocene period has left a significant topography impression of ancient marine features. Series of beach ridges, bars and older dune ridges and younger dunes, tidal basins of the past marine terrace reveal the typical raised surface features of the Bay of Bengal coast. All the linear features are parallel to present day shoreline.The dune row presence first shoreline of the strand plain surface and longer phase of the regressive sea. The eastward extension of the Ramnagar beach ridges is restricted by the presence of dominant tidal basin of the Holocene period around the region. Surface height of the beach ridges ranges from 3.5m to 4.6m above sea level. Two or three rows of closed spacing dunes separated by linear tidal valleys represent the Digha surface of present bay shoreline. The 2 successive sand dunes are lying over the 2 significant terrace surface.the beach fringed dune row is continuous along the repent shoreline along the Digha, Sankarpur and Dadanpatrabar.Subarnarekha estuarine delta is western most unit of the topographic expression in the present coastal belt. Subarnarekha delta has advanced seaward with the formation of a series of Chenier beach ridges. Recently Chenair formation is very active in the eastern side of lower estuarine. There are 6 successive Chenair ridges and 4 beach ridges within the distance of 4 ½ Km from Chandaneswar to Talsari at the eastern sector of the delta plain.

Chenair beach ridges and sand ridges extend towards west and east of the older delta plain surface but recent delta Chenair ridhes and sand ridges have extended towards east of the lower estuary.

References Paul A.K.(2002) Coastal Geomorphology & Environment, ACB publications, Kolkata, page 39-105. Paul A.K. et al (2003) Environment management Hugli Subarnarekha Delta, Indian Journal of Geography and Environment, V.U.

Medinipur pp. 1-27; O. Mally. L(1914):District gazetteer of Medinipur, Govt. of West Bengal, Alipur pp.22-200; Census of India (2001):Medinipur East, Ramnagar I, Ramnagar II, Digha and Contai population data. Woodroffe, C.D. (2002):Coasts: Form Process and Evolution, Cambridge University Press. Richard A. Davis IR and Duncan M. Fitzgerald (2002) beaches and coasts, Blackwell publishing. Pethik,John (1984):An introduction to coastal geomorphology. Arnold-Heinemann; Ivan Valiela (2006):Global coastal change, Blackwell publishing.

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coastal geography of sankarpur,dadanpatrabar,digha and ramnagar blocks

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