Palaeochannels and Water Resource Management A Study in the Western Bengal Delta

This book characterizes palaeochannels and their hydrological properties in the Western Bengal Delta (Damodar Fan Delta) to help understand palaeochannel development, with the goal of better informing sustainable water resource management in the world's largest delta. It not only demonstrates the link between palaeochannels and water resource management, but also explains how anthropogenic activities in the region have deteriorated water resource both in quantity and quality affecting human and ecological populations. The authors use remote sensing, GIS and machine learning techniques to examine the geophysical history and characteristics of palaeochannels up to the present day to determine how they have been impacted by anthropogenic activity and climate change, and what needs to be done to better manage them for the purpose of improving water availability and quality . The book will cater to the needs of students at the undergraduate and graduate level in earth sciences, geography, geospatial sciences and environmental sciences, and will also help regional planners and decision-makers in comprehending the complexity of the Bengal Delta.

Chapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter 2: Damodar Fan delta in Context.- Chapter 3: Identification of palaeochannels.- Chapter 4: Surface water and groundwater dynamics and quality assessment.- Chapter 5: Delineation of water surplus and deficit areas.- Chapter 6: Water resource management using palaeochannels.- Chapter 7: Conclusions.

Sadik Mahammad (b. 1990 ) completed his master's degree (M.A.) and PhD in Geography from Aliah University, Kolkata, West Bengal. He qualified for UGC NET JRF and WBCSC SET in Geography. Presently, he is working as an Assistant Teacher in a Higher Secondary School, under the Government of West Bengal.  Previously, he was a Senior Research Fellow in Aliah University and served as a Guest Faculty in the Department of Geography, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, West Bengal. His PhD topic is Palaeochannels and Water Resource Management of Damodar Fan–Delta, West Bengal. He already published 12 research articles in different international journals. He also published 5 book chapters as a principal author in international journals. He presented papers at various national and international seminars and conferences. His research area encompasses fluvial geomorphology, applied hydrology, palaeogeomorphology, water resource management and RS & GIS. Throughout the research work, he wishes to draw attention to the sustainable management of natural resources. 

Aznarul Islam (b. 1987) completed Master of Science in Geography from Kalyani University, West Bengal and MPhil and PhD in Geography from the University of Burdwan, West Bengal, India. He is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography, Aliah University (AU), Kolkata, India since 2016 and served as the Head (Officiating), Geography, AU from November 2019 to February 2022. Previously he was an Assistant Professor (West Bengal Education Service) at the Department of Geography, Barasat Government College, West Bengal (2014-2016). Dr. Islam served as the Guest Faculty/visiting faculty in a few institutes like Jadavpur University, Kolkata, and Kazi Nazrul University, Asansol. He was awarded the UGC Junior Research Fellowship in Geography in 2012. Besides, he secured All India Rank 018/188 in Earth Sciences in CSIR-UGC NET in 2011. He has already published more than 80 research papers including 50 SCI journal articles. He is the principal author of the book ‘Riverbank Erosion in the Bengal Delta: An Integrated Perspective’ published in 2024 by Springer. He edited another 10 books and contributed more than 26 book chapters in edited volumes and conference proceedings. He has presented papers in more than 35 national and international seminars and conferences. He has successfully guided 4 PhD theses and 2 theses under preparation. He was awarded one UGC minor research project. He completed one major research project funded by the ICSSR, Govt. of India in 2019 as the sole Project Director. He received a Department of Science and Technology (Govt. of India)- Science and Engineering Research Board (DST-SERB) State University Research Excellence (SURE) Award in 2023 as the Principal Investigator. He has bee