Author:

Dr. Arunima Ghosh
SACT-I
Gour Mahavidyalaya
Malda,West Bengal,India
Email: Arunima.ju@gmail.com

Abstract:: The Ganges-bank erosion in Malda district is an environmental hazard that has a history of disturbing the life and livelihood of the population of the riverine areas. From 12th Century onwards, in the region of Malda, river Ganges started shifting its courses that took much more severe form in the late 20th Century and the consequent river-bank erosion got much more intensified in course of time. This phenomenon, by grasping the land of the inhabitants affected their life and livelihood to a great extent. The present study is focused on the Ganges-bank erosion in Malda and the resultant migration of the people to the char or sand-shoal. How from 1960s, the people started shifting from one place to another adjusting with the dynamic nature of the Ganges shows the inter-relation between the river-bank erosion and migration of people. This persistent river-bank erosion in connection with various forces working within the socio-economic structure of the area, compels these people to migrate to other states as labours affecting their life as well as the regional development.

Key Words:: Environmental hazard Ganges-bank Erosion,Migration, Regional development etc.