CHANNEL MORPHOLOGY, AGGRADATION AND BANK EROSION ALONG THE MAJOR DRAINAGE SYSTEMS OF SUNDERBANS, SOUTH 24-PARGANAS, WEST BENGAL

摘要

The Sundarbans of south 24-Parganas, West Bengal form a part of the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta system with a network of trunk channels like Bartala/Muri Ganga River to the west and the Saptamukhi, Thakuran, Matla and Raimangal rivers to the east with the connecting creeks, that form the major drainage system of the area. While features like multiple thalwegs, mid channel bars, vegetated islands along with extensive bank erosion are the characteristics of the Muri Ganga/Bartala River, shallowing of the thalweg and shifting of the navigational route from north to south over a period of sixty years are the significant signatures noticeable in the Saptamukhi River. Mteridal flats are well marked along the channel margins in the upper reaches of Matla, Thakuran and other trunk channels.