ABSTRACT
The river Rasulpur flows through the east and west Midnapore district of West Bengal, India, and carries high sediment load due to distribution within estuarine confluences. In combination with seasonal rainfall, waterlogging, storm hazard and associated anthropogenic activities create the morphological changes in river courses and depletion of water quality, and enhance the flood risk during the past decades. The present chapter describes tidal behaviour, morphologic characteristics and human-induced environmental changes of Rasulpur River. The sorted environmental data, water quality parameters, pisciculture activities, etc. were collected throughout scheduled field observations, laboratory analysis and person-to-person interview by structured questionnaires. Remote sensing data during the specific period (1990–2017) were used to evaluate the dynamic behaviour of the river course, demarcation of erosion and accretion zone, the meandering pattern of river course and spatiotemporal characteristics of land use and land cover (LULC). Multiple anthropogenic activities along with the river course have been scientifically studied by applying methodological field survey, historical records and standard literature review. For validation of results, field survey was carried out (2017–2018) and the Google Earth images also scientifically implanted. The results showed most of the changes within Rasulpur River course held at middle portion (Kalinagar and Alipur). Moreover, due to the undesired progress of pisciculture and agricultural activities, the flow of tidal water has been obstructed and also aids to collapse of the river bank. The use of chemical fertilisers in the agricultural activities and rapid expansion of pisciculture ultimately degraded the water quality of the mentioned river. The development of artificial embankment along the river course impedes the natural flow of water and causes inequalities of riverbank stabilisation. Present investigations provide a suitable recommendation for improving the planning and management of the river course to the sustained underlying anthropogenic process by considering the ecosystem values and the primary needs of the users.
