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Fluvio-Ecological Modifications and Livelihood options of an Oxbow lake of Kalindri River, Malda District, West Bengal, India

Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Geography, University of Gour Banga, Malda,West Bengal, India

Int. Res. J. Earth Sci., Volume 4, Issue (7), Pages 1-14, July,25 (2016)

Abstract

The river Kalindri experienced severe channel change due to lateral shifting associated with bank erosion over course of time. The shifting of the river Kalindri created a good number of oxbow lakes which has direct and indirect impacts on livelihood pattern of the people living in surrounding region. This paper attempt to discuss the consequent phases of oxbow lake genesis and hydro-ecological modification of an oxbow lake of Kalindri River situated near Amrity (8803’11” E and 2501’44”) and Balupur (8803’4” and 2502’26”) region. It is found that oxbow lake has direct impact on local people. Process of oxbow lake formation generated fertile soil for agricultural production. The oxbow lake is considered as resource pool of water, floral and faunal diversity, fishing ground, source of irrigation water, seasonal agricultural field and many other visible and invisible resources storage. So, if one assembled all goods and services provided by this wetland and converted them to monetary term, the monetary value of the wetland produced by those goods, services and other resources would be greater in comparison to any other productive agricultural land. Still oxbow lake is rapidly transforming into agricultural land. Livelihood opportunities where material opportunities is more common than services provided by oxbows which is in fact immeasurable in monetary terms.

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