Environmental challenges of deltaic towns in West Bengal, India

The sustainability of an area is inextricably linked to environmental challenges. Growing environmental challenges exacerbate local crises and increase society’s risk. Such localized crises are prevalent in small towns of the Sundarbans Delta in India due to their climate-sensitive location and uncontrolled population growth. This article examines the present environmental crises and the effects of tropical cyclones and urban flooding on the citizens of the deltaic towns of Budge Budge, Diamond Harbour, and Pujali, located in South 24 Parganas, West Bengal. In this study, we collected both primary and secondary data through empirical research. Perceptions from 208 households, 18 municipal officials, and 52 councilors were obtained through in-depth interviews and a semi-structured questionnaire survey. The population projection, spatial analysis index, and land use and land cover maps for 2011 and 2023 were used to assess population growth and ongoing land dynamics in the towns. To identify the impact of cyclones, data on cyclone frequency and intensity from 1900 to 2023 were also analyzed. The study shows that the towns of the Sundarban delta are facing severe environmental crises for multiple reasons: High rate of population growth; development of informal settlements; destruction of blue and green infrastructure; the increasing impact of cyclones and flooding; and the lack of financial strength of the ULBs to overcome those crises

Delta · Environmental degradation · Flooding (psychology · Land use · Population · Population growth · Sustainability · Sustainable development · Coastal and Marine Management · Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics · Land Use and Ecosystem Services