Environmental Vulnerability and Displacement Due to Land Erosion: Selected Case Studies in West Bengal, India

Abstract

With the changing climate, and hydro-geomorphological regimes in the state of West Bengal, India, inhabitants along the rivers and estuarine fronts are becoming increasingly vulnerable to continuous land erosion. The present paper deals with the erosion in parts of Cooch Behar and South 24 Parganas Districts to show similar displacement issues in contrasting geographical situations. The main objective of the study is to analyse the adaptation strategies, capacity, and resilience of the environmentally displaced population. Primary data on the living conditions of the concerned population have been collected, and RS and GIS techniques used to investigate their coping mechanisms under adverse climatic and geo-hydrological systems. It has been observed that in both the cases, settlement conditions were temporary with only basic amenities available for survival and low satisfaction level of the re-settlers, but having far more security of living. However, a lot of developmental initiatives are needed to reduce the impact of environmental hazards on the displaced population.