Trend of Flood at Riverine Bengal Basin of Kandi Block of Murshidabad District:A Hydrogeomorphological Overview

Abstract

River flood represents the most common geomorphic hazard encompassing a wide range of events like largely unpredictable, highly localized, flash flood to anticipated and widespread floods. According to the geological history of the moribund delta formation of Ganga system of West Bengal, Kandi block of Murshidabad district was formed by gradual deposition of sand silt and clay and is experiencing floods almost in every year since the period of immemorial. But the character of flood has been changing rapidly due to large scale human interference in regard to dam & barrage construction, lofty embankment construction, encroachment of human being to the wetland (beel) area, unplanned road construction without much of sluice gates etc. As a result of all the deposition within river channel & beel area have hastened as well as water retention capacity of have reduced down in a large extent which in turn making the situation grave some. As per the local people’s perception also flood frequency, flood stagnation period & flood level height have increased in a considerable extent. Memorable flood frequency analysis of the last century has revealed that intensive flood occurrences have been increased progressively in helter & skelter manner since after the construction of Massonjore & Tilpara.