Water Scarcity in Wetland Area within Kandi Block of West Bengal: A Hydro-Ecological Assessment

Abstract

Water logging areas are basically designated by water affluences in permanent or seasonal basis. But due to accelerated rate of human intervention and human induced modification of natural processes, natural wetland landscapes also have today under acute seasonal water scarcity. Wetland areas have been gradually squeezing, permanent wetland areas have transmuted into semi permanent wetlands with groundwater table (GWT) slashing down rapidly. Due to intensive boro culture, as much as 2444
mini deeps ground water table have been slashed by 0.32 m./ year since 1968 to 2008 during summer but it is more higher (0.35 m./year) between 2001-2008. During May, 1968 G.W.T. depth was 6.09 m. whereas it is almost 20.19 m by 2008. Changes in land use to some extent mitigate such ensuing
threats of ground water scarcity as a result the entire hydrological and ecological scenario of the wetland landscape has under gone massive negative transformation.

Key words: Wetland, water scarcity, hydro-ecology, human invasion, lowering of ground water table, clogging of tributary