A Voluminous River of Yesterday- A Degraded Canal of Today: Physical and Human Aspects

Abstract

Anjana, once the main left side stream line figure of river Jalangi, has now become a narrow canal. As per records of Nadia district, the then voluminous river Anjana was the only short cut to go from one side of the district to other, and also it maintained the water balance between river Jalangi and river Churni at the time of Monsoon. Thus this river had immense socio-economic as well as hydrogeological significance. The residential area of the then Zamindar Raja Krishna Chandra Roy was also located by the banks of river Anjana. Navigability of the river aided in mercantile trade to and fro Nadia district during the time of Raja Krishna Chandra Roy. Settlement developed by the banks of this river due to its navigability for trade and transportation purpose; moreover, ample water supply for irrigation was an added advantage. Gradually, due to population pressure owing to increasing human occupancy of the area, the whole river system changed. It turned to a degraded, narrow, congested canal as seen in the contemporary time owing to various socio-economic and anthropogenic factors. Hence, there has been a sea change in the whole river system of anjana from a voluminous river to a degraded ‘Khal’. This paper is an attempt to summarize what physical and human aspects have deteriorated this voluminous river into a degraded canal gradually and are presently continuing to do so, and how the negative effects on the river bed has been detrimental to the immediate surroundings.