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Foreword
The quality of human life in India especially in urban areas of India has appreciably
improved during last few decades but the resultant stress on environment was also
observed far above the permissible limit. The climate change, deteriorating air quality, pollution of both ground and surface water, unscientific disposal of waste and
loss of biodiversity are issues of concern. The target to contain the trend of temperature increase within 1.5
°
C from 1850 to 2100 seems impossible to achieve. The
Central Pollution Control Board of India has identified 122 non-attainment cities
where air quality deteriorates and becomes unfit for breathing especially during four
winter months (November to February). Unfortunately, the list includes seven cities/towns of West Bengal. These are Kolkata, Haora, Haldia, Barrackpur, Durgapur,
Raniganj and Asansol. The air quality management seems to be most important
challenge as it affects all including the new born baby to senior most citizen of the
country.Amongst the twelve identified pollutants PM 10 and PM 2.5 attract special
attention. Several actions are being taken to improve the air quality.
The delayed monsoon rainfall along with mid-monsoon breaks often affects the
Kharif cultivation in the Indian Subcontinent. The sea level in the Bay of Bengal is
reportedly rising and Sea Surface Temperature is increasing at a rate far above the
global average. These meteorological events combined together gives rise to devastating geo-climatic hazards, thus affecting the ecosystem, especially in the
Sundarban Delta. The slow subsidence of land along the coast, along with sea level
rise results in encroachment of sea and erosion of the littoral tracts. It seems to be a
paradox of nature that in spite of deposition of 100 billion tonnes of sediment load
carried by the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna system, no large scale building of land
was recorded in the western part of the Delta, while the Meghna estuary in the east,
has grown appreciably during the last two centuries. It may be noted that the average rate of land subsidence in coastal Bengal is 2.9mm/year and sea level rise being
3.6mm/year, the combined negative change in surface level may be 6.5mm/year
approximately. The littoral tracts of Bengal stands at 2 to 4 m above mean sea level
and the average bench mark of Kolkata is 6 m. So the engulfing of the living city and
the major parts of south Bengal by 2070 within the sea is a myth. But the occasional
high intensity, short duration rainfall and cyclonic storm surge may seasonally sub-
Foreword
The quality of human life in India especially in urban areas of India has appreciably
improved during last few decades but the resultant stress on environment was also
observed far above the permissible limit. The climate change, deteriorating air quality, pollution of both ground and surface water, unscientific disposal of waste and
loss of biodiversity are issues of concern. The target to contain the trend of temperature increase within 1.5
°
C from 1850 to 2100 seems impossible to achieve. The
Central Pollution Control Board of India has identified 122 non-attainment cities
where air quality deteriorates and becomes unfit for breathing especially during four
winter months (November to February). Unfortunately, the list includes seven cities/towns of West Bengal. These are Kolkata, Haora, Haldia, Barrackpur, Durgapur,
Raniganj and Asansol. The air quality management seems to be most important
challenge as it affects all including the new born baby to senior most citizen of the
country.Amongst the twelve identified pollutants PM 10 and PM 2.5 attract special
attention. Several actions are being taken to improve the air quality.
The delayed monsoon rainfall along with mid-monsoon breaks often affects the
Kharif cultivation in the Indian Subcontinent. The sea level in the Bay of Bengal is
reportedly rising and Sea Surface Temperature is increasing at a rate far above the
global average. These meteorological events combined together gives rise to devastating geo-climatic hazards, thus affecting the ecosystem, especially in the
Sundarban Delta. The slow subsidence of land along the coast, along with sea level
rise results in encroachment of sea and erosion of the littoral tracts. It seems to be a
paradox of nature that in spite of deposition of 100 billion tonnes of sediment load
carried by the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna system, no large scale building of land
was recorded in the western part of the Delta, while the Meghna estuary in the east,
has grown appreciably during the last two centuries. It may be noted that the average rate of land subsidence in coastal Bengal is 2.9mm/year and sea level rise being
3.6mm/year, the combined negative change in surface level may be 6.5mm/year
approximately. The littoral tracts of Bengal stands at 2 to 4 m above mean sea level
and the average bench mark of Kolkata is 6 m. So the engulfing of the living city and
the major parts of south Bengal by 2070 within the sea is a myth. But the occasional
high intensity, short duration rainfall and cyclonic storm surge may seasonally sub-