36

CHAPTER - THREE

HYDRO-MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF

MURSHIDABAD DISTRICT

3.0 INTRODUCTION

The science of hydromorphology involves the developmental of a conceptual

basis for improving our understanding of the impact of human on land and water

resources. Water is considered to be one of the most important attribute of earth with

which human being carve upon the land according to his demand. Land is a broad,

holistic concept in natural science. It involves specific surface area and therefore it is

truly a geographical concept. “ A tract of land is defined geographically as a specific

area of the earth’s surface; its characteristics embrace all reasonably stable, or

predictably cyclic attributes of the biosphere vertically above and below this area

including those of the atmosphere, the soil and underlying rocks, the topography, the

water, the plants and animal population and the result of past and present human

activities, to the extent that these attributes exert a significant influence on present and

future uses of land by man” (Christan and Stewart in Roy et.al., 1968; Man. B and

Smith, 1973). 2 Dressler et.al. (2006) had defined hydrology and morphology together

as hydromorphology has issue related with structure, evolution, and dynamic

morphology of hydrologic systems over years, decades and centuries. The subject

Hydromorphology mainly highlighted societal challenges, growing demand of

population, pervasive anthropological impact on environmental and water system. Very

few water shed is natural or un-impacted hydrologic condition in this present decade.

Dependence on water shed is a source of uncertainty and non- stationary. The critical

use of land by human beings; through challenges in front of engineers that how to adjust

water systems through modification to the landscape; water infrastructure and climate

and again reshaping water system.

Earlier from chapter two it is clear that fresh sweet water is nectar on Earth. It is

like the blood in human body. In this work we will discuss the anthropological impact

37

on ground water and its effect on hydrology and morphology in the entire Murshidabad

district.

HYDROLOGY + MORPHOLOGY = HYDROMORPHOLOGY

FIELD OF STUDY

HYDROLOGY STRUCTURAL

GEOLOGY

EVOLUTION OF

LAND FORMS TIME

ANTHROPOLIGYCAL

FACTORS

DYNAMIC

LANDUSE

PHYSICAL FIELD CULTURAL FIELD

HYDROMORPHOLOGY

3.1 GEOLOGY

3A. Mitra had presented a geological classification in Gazateer of 1979.The

geological formation is broadly classified into three parts viz. a) recent alluvium, b)

Pleistocene- recent older alluvium and lateritic clay and c) Jurassic Rajmahal Trap.

a) Recent alluvium: The ‘‘bagri’’ region of the district is occupied by recent

alluvium. The soil is mainly composed of sands and clays brought by the rivers.

All types of soils are fertile and produce all kinds of crops.

b) Pleistocene- recent older alluvium and lateritic clay: A major part of the ‘‘rarh’

region that is the western part of the river Bhagirathi is occupied by older

alluvium and lateritic clay. It may be the continuation of the sub-Vindhyan

region of lateritic clay and nodular limestone. The ‘kankar’ (the beds of

limestone) are scattered at places in this western part.

38

c) Jurassic Rajmahal Trap: The northern part of the district consists of basaltic lava

which flowed with intercalated, carbonaceous shale and clays. The basalt is a

black- coloured, fine- grained amygdaloidal rock. The amygdales are filled with

chalcedony, calcite, zeolite and other secondary minerals.

Similarly, Asis Bhatacharya and S.N. Banerjee in 1979 had presented a

classification of the Ajay- Bhagirathi Valley in the Indian Journal of Earth Science

(vol.6 no.1). Their study area was divided into four surfacial geomorphic plains a)

Lateric upland, b) Older deltaic Plain, c) Younger Deltaic Plain and d) Bhagirathi

Recent Surface.

The Quaternary sediments have been classified as:

Table no: 3.i Geomorphic subdivision and its characteristics

Geological time

scale

Geomorphic

subdivision Morphological characteristics

Recent Pleistocene

Younger Deltaic Plain

formation (YDP)

• River terrace sediments

• Alluvial sediments with soil

containing soft ferruginous nodules

Older Deltaic Plain

Formation (ODP)

• Alluvial sediments with soil

containing calcareous nodules

Lateritic Formation • Hard lateritic and mottled clay with

underlying alluvial sediments

Source: Compiled by the scholar from A. Bhattacharya & S.N. Banerjee (1979).

3.2 GEOMORPHOLOGY

Hiuen Tsang’s accounted about ‘Karnasuvarna’ situated just almost twenty

kilometers away from present Berhampore sadar town, that the inhabitants were very

rich. The moist low land helped in regular farming, flowers and fruits. The climate was

39

temperate and the people were of good character and were patrons of learning

(Gazetteer, 1979; by A. Mitra, pp: 32).

Asis Bhatacharya and S.N. Banerjee in 1979 had classified the Ajay Bhagirathi

valley in to four geomorphic plain. A) Lateritic Upland or Ilambazar plain, b) Older

Deltaic Plain or Rampurhat Plain, c) Younger Deltaic Plain or Kandi Plain and d)

Bhagirathi recent surface. The District Murshidabad lies generally within the Younger

Deltaic Plain or Kandi Plain and the Bhagirathi Recent Surface.

The river Bhagirathi, flowing from north to south through the district had divided the

area into almost two equal halves, namely ‘rarh’ and ‘bagri’. The tract to the west of the

river is locally known as ‘rarh’ and the tract to the east as ‘bagri’.

The east of Bhagirathi is low-lying and alluvial. The climate is humid and the

land is liable to flood by the spill of the Bhagirathi and other rivers. The soil is

amazingly fertile. On the western side, the relief is higher than the eastern part and the

surface is undulating. The soil is hard clay. The climate is drier than in the eastern tract.

Although the western tract or the ‘rarh’ is slightly high and undulating than the eastern

tract ‘bagri’, the land is interspersed with numerous swamps and paleo-channels. The

greatest elevation in the western boundary is near the border of the Birbhum district, i.e.

Khargram, Burwan, Nabagram and Sagardighi block.

The Young Deltaic Plain or Kandi Plain is a terrace like plain. This plain varies

from 6 kilometers in the north to 38 kilometers in the south and the average slope is 0.6

meters per kilometers. The plain becomes narrower near Jangipur and widens towards

Berhampore. In the east of Kandi the patches of Older Deltaic Plain blended into Young

Deltaic Plain and in few areas the Older Deltaic Plain underlies the Young Deltaic

Plain. The fan like younger delta of Mayurakhi forms terraces. The radiating channel

pattern with natural levees on each bank is well preserved. Interestingly large filled

valley-cuts are found near the junction of Older Deltaic Plain and the Bhagirathi recent

surface. The sedimentary structures are common in Young Deltaic Plain. The fluviatile

land forms are like ox-bow lakes, levees, meanders, etc. also preserved.

The Bhagirathi recent surface is confined into the present day channels and their

immediate vicinity. The belt of terrace is 3-5 kilometers in width with slope 0.2 meters

per kilometers. The land is very low in some places and there is a sharp break present

40

between Young Deltaic Plain and the Bhagirathi recent surface (e.g. flood plain

between Bhagirathi and Dwarka River). The surface is composed of loose and

completely unconsolidated sediments structures. The river Bhagirathi meanders

strongly between Jangipur and Berhampore police station. Geologist assumes that the

river is a misfit and likely to be an ancient course of the Ganges. Big meanders scars,

cut off, abandoned channels and levees are some of the examples of preservation of

landforms. Presently the river courses are oscillating frequently (blocks like Suti-I, Suti-

II, Raghunathganj-I, Lalgola and Bhagawangola-I are mainly affected).

The older landforms are exposed to erosion; therefore, the land forms of the

younger ones are better preserved. The land form near rivers are cut to produce

geomorphically younger plain which is filled by sediments of the younger plain,

through ‘tongue’ gradually close the older plain. This is how an oscillating river

maintains the sequence from oldest to youngest as Lateritic Upland -Older Deltaic

Plain-Younger Deltaic Plain- Bhagirathi recent surface.

Table no: 3.ii Correlation between geomorphic plains and geologic formation in

Ajay -Bhagirathi valley

Geomorphic Plain Geologic soil-stratigraphic formation

Bhagirathi recent surface Recent i.e. the ‘‘bagri’’ region of Murshidabad district

Younger Deltaic Plain or Kandi

Plain

Late Pleistocene i.e. the ‘‘rarh’’ region of Murshidabad

district, near Bhagirathi river.

Older Deltaic Plain or Rampurhat

Plain

Upper Pleistocene i.e. western parts of the ‘‘rarh’’ region

of Murshidabad district and parts of the Birbhum district

Lateritic Upland or Ilambazar plain Lower to Middle Pleistocene i.e. the Birbhum district

Source: Compiled by the scholar from Bhattacharya, A. & Banerjee S.N., 1979,

Indian Journal of Earth Science, vol.6 no.1 pp: 101.

.

41

3.3 PHYSIOGRAPHIC DIVISION

The river Bhagirathi, flowing from north to south through the district, broadly

divides the district into two almost equal portions, which form a striking contrast in

their geology, their physical characteristics and agriculture form among each other.

Traditionally the district was divided into four tracts –

a) ‘‘rarh’’ consisting areas to the south of the Ganga and west of Bhagirathi,

b) “Barendra” lying north of the Ganga and between the Mahananda and

Karatoya rivers,

c) ‘‘bagri’’ is the south Bengal and

d) “Vanga” is the eastern Bengal.

The whole of the ‘‘rarh’’ region lies at an elevation as the range of Rajmahal

hills slopes gently down in this tract. The north of the district is an area of about 150 sq.

miles is a strip of low-lying region which becomes a vast lake in the monsoon. The

villages are like islands during this season. South of this narrow strip of land is a plain

almost tree-less at the confluence of the Mor and the Dwaraka popularly known as

‘hijal’. The ‘‘bagri’’ is low area, exposed to inundations during monsoon and is a tract

of fertile soil. Here in the south eastern corner of the district about 50 sq. miles of area

is swampy tract of dark clay and is popularly known as ‘Kalantar’. It receives the

drainage of the swampy rivers in some part of the district.

42

Table no: 3.iii Minor Physiographic division of Murshidabad District

Minor Physiographic

Division Blocks

a) ‘rarh’ Khargram, Burwan, Nabagram and Sagardighi

b) Strip of low-lying land Suti-I, Suti-II, Samserganj, and Farakka

c) Hijal Kandi, Bharatpur- I, Bharatpur-II,

d) ‘bagri’

Hariharpara, Berhampore, Domkal, Beldanga-I, Jalangi,

Raghunathganj-I, Raghunathganj-II, Raninagar-I, Raninagar-II,

Murshidabad-Jiaganj, Lalgola, Bhagawangola-I and

Bhagawangola-II.

e) Kalantar Beldanga-II, Nowda

Source: Physiographic division done by A. Mitra, 1979, Gazateer of India, West

Bengal, Census Murshidabad district handbook; pp: 8-11.

Table no: 3.iv Another physiographic division was done in Murshidabad Gazateer,

2003 depending on the confluence of rivers.

Minor Physiographic Division Blocks

a) Areas fed by Padma river Farakka, Suti-I, Suti-II and Samsarganj.

b) Conjoining areas of Padma-

Bhairab- Bhagirathi river,

Raghunathganj-II, Lalgola, Bhagawangola-I,

Bhagawangola-II, Murshidabad-Jiaganj, Lalgola, Jalangi,

Raninagar-I, Raninagar-II, Hariharpara, eastern part of

Berhampore, Domkal

c) Flood plain areas of Bhagirathi

river,

South western part of Lalgola, western part of

Bhagawangola-I, Berhampore, Murshidabad-Jiaganj,

Beldanga-I.

d) Flood plain areas of Bhagirathi-

Dwaraka river,

Southern part of Suti-I, Raghunathganj-I, Nabagram,

Sagardighi, northern part of Kandi, northern part of

Khargram

e) Upper land of ‘Ragamati’, Eastern part of Kandi and Bharatpur- I, north- eastern

part of Bharatpur- II.

f) Plain areas of Mayurakhi-

Dwaraka,

Khargram, Burwan , western part of Kandi, Bharatpur- I,

Bharatpur- II.

g) Low lands of ‘Kalantar’. Beldanga-II, Nowda, southern part of Beldanga-I and

Hariharpara.

Presently Murshidabad District can be discussed with the above mentioned

Physiographic division for agricultural planning. Blocks lying within this division

shares more or less common physical and cultural characteristics.

43

Figure no: 3.i Minor Phisiographic division of Murshidabad District of (redrawn by

the scholar from Murshidabad Gazeteer, 2003)

44

3.4 SOIL

The ‘rarh’ region is substantially a continuation of the sub- Vindhyan region of

lateritic clay and nodular ghuting. The soil is grayish or reddish mixed with lime and

iron oxide and scattered nodular lime ghutting (kankar).

The ‘bagri’ region lying in the Bhagirathi recent surface has little soil development. The

surface composed of loose and completely unconsolidated sediments exhibiting a

variety of sedimentary structures. About 1-2 meters of thick brown mottled soil with

soft and incipient ferruginous concretion develop on Younger Deltaic Plain. The soil pH

ranges from 6.7 to 7.4.

Plate no. 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 are showing few photographs of different soil profiles

of Murshidabad District.

The NBSS & LUP (National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning) of

the ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) prepared a map of the soils of West

Bengal including the Murshidabad District in a scale 1:500,000 (figure no.3.iii).

The soil groups of Murshidabad district classification was done by the agricultural

department in annual action plan 1986-87.

45

Table no: 3.v Soil Combination in Different Block of Murshidabad District

Block Predominent groups of soil % total

area Other groups

% total

area

Berhampore Clay,loam 80 Sandyloam, Silty loam 20

Beldanga-I Sandy clay, loam, sandy loam 65 Loam, clay loam, silty clay loam 35

Beldanga-II Sandy clay, loam, sandy loam 65 clay loam, loam, silty clay loam 35

Hariharpara Clay, loam 85 Sandy loam 15

Nowda Clay. loam 97 Sandy loam, silty loam 3

Domkal Sandy loam 97 Clay, silty loam 3

Jalangi Loam. Silty loam, silt 60 Sandy loam, silty clay clay 40

Murshidabad -

Jiaganj Loam, sandy loam 55 Clay, clay loam 45

Lalgola Clay loam, loam 70 Silty clay loam 30

Bhagawangola-I Loam, silty 55 Clay loam, silty clay loam 45

Bhagawangola-II Silty loam 55 Clay loam, silty clay loam 45

Raninagar-I Silty loam, silty clay loam 82 Clay, loam, sandy, clay, loam 18

Raninagar-II Silty loam, silty clay loam 82 Loam, sand, clay loam, clay 18

Nabagram Clay loam 75 Clay, loam, silty clay loam, silty

loam 25

Kandi Clay loam, loam 65 Sandy loam, silty loam, clay 35

Khargram Loam, clay loam 80 Clay, sandy, clay loam 20

Burwan Clay, clay loam 90 Loam, silty loam 10

Bharatpur- I Clay, clay loam 82 Loam, silty loam, sandy loam,

sand 18

Bharatpur- II Clay, clay loam 82 Silty loam, sandy loam, loam 18

Raghunathganj-I Clay loam 95 Loam, silty loam, sandy loam 5

Raghunathganj-II Loam, sandy loam 55 Clay loam, sandy loam, loam

silty loam 45

Suti-I Clay, sandy loam 80 Loam, clay loam 20

Suti-II Sandy loam, clay 80 Loam, clay loam 20

Samsarganj Clay loam, clay 60 Sandy loam 40

Farakka Clay loam, clay 85 Sandy loam, loam, silty loam 15

Sagardighi Clay loam, loam 67 Sandy, sandy clay. Sandy loam,

sandy clay loam 33

Source: Re-tabulated and redrawn by the scholar from annual action plan 1986-87, pp9-10

46

Plate no: 3.2 Silty loam soils, Bhagawangola-II Block, Murshidabad District

Plate no: 3.3 Clay loam soil, Barwan Block,

Murshidabad District.

Plate no: 3.1 Sandy loam soils, Domkal Block,

Murshidabad District.

47

Figure no: 3.ii Soil map of Murshidabad District (Compiled by the author from

District Annual Action Plan, Principal Agricultural Office, 1985).

1985

48

Figure no: 3.iii Soil map of Murshidabad District (Courtesy: NBSS & LUP, 2007)

The above table no 3.v show that soils of Murshidabad are mainly resultant

depositional action of the Ganges and its tributaries in the ‘bagri’ region while in the

‘rarh’ the soils were deposited from other rivers of sub- Vindhyan range. The

morphology indicates that the soils of ‘bagri’ have not formed at a very distant date.

Fine sand and silt predominate throughout the depth. The clayey soil is mixed with

loamy soil making good water holding capacity in soil. Occasional salty patches impart

49

a whitish colour to the soil. The soil contain low amount of potash and phosphate, and

poor in organic matter and nitrogen. The permeability of the soil is very high and the

soils have good drainage capacity.

4Sen, J. 1988; had proposed a soil classification of the ‘bagri’ region adopted

from the Directorate of Agriculture (1958-60) as:

a) Ganga Riverine lands (Meadow soils) – i) Inundated phase- Ganga Char lands: This

region is found in the adjacent to the banks of the Ganga- Padma River and Jalangi

River. ii) High land phase – Ganga ridges: these regions occurs beside the inundated

phase; comparatively in the highest topography.

b) Ganga Flat land: This land lies between Ganga riverine and Ganga lowland. The

nitrogen content is moderate and the buffering capacity is very high. Water

permeability and water retention capacity is very high. The percentage of sand

decreases and the percentage of clay increases with the depth of the soil.

c) Ganga Lowland: This zone is associated with heavy clay horizon followed by sub-

soils of sandy material, coarse sand and some concretions. During rainy season the

soil is sticky and during winter the soil dried up and cracks. The percentage of silt,

moisture, carbon and nitrogen decreases with the depth of the soil.

d) Ganga Uplands: The area has comparatively higher topography. The Bhagirathi

rarely swings to the right and erode the land due to the stable and stiff nature of this

soil. The soil profile is clayey in nature with the presence of lime horizon. The

sesquioxide present is immobile. In the third and fourth layer lime accumulation is

noted due to leaching of calcium carbonate from the surface layer. Phosphate and

nitrogen content is low and potash content is average.

The northern part of the Murshidabad district (blocks like Farakka, Suti-I, Suti-

II and Samsherganj) consists of basaltic lava flows with intercalated carbonaceous shale

and clays. This part of the district has very low soil fertility. This area presents a perfect

picturesque of a combination of hill, woods and water. During rainy season the area

forms a vast lake in with villages appear as an island. Basloi River and other hill

streams from the west Rajmahal hill flood the area every year (Gazetteer by A. Mitra,

1979; pp: 10, 15).

50

In Murshidabad Gazateer 2003, the soil of the district is broadly classified into two:

A) Sub- Vindhyan category of alluvial and

B) The alluvial flood plain of the Ganges.

Further minor classes of the soil are:

a) Flood plain just near the Ganga-Padma-Bhagirathi River,

b) Gangetic plain land,

c) Gangetic upland,

d) Gangetic lowland,

e) Rajmahal flood plain area,

f) Rajmahal plain land,

g) Rajmahal upper plain land.

Table no: 3.vi Minor soil group of the Murshidabad district

Soil class Police station

Flood plain just near the

Ganga-Padma-Bhagirathi

Beldanga, Bhagawangola, Lalgola, Suti, Farakka,

northern part of Raninagar, eastern part of

Raghunathganj, middle part of Berhampore

Gangetic plain land

Domkal, Jalangi, eastern part of Murshidabad and

Berhampore, southern part of Raninagar, northern part

of Bhagawangola and Hariharpara.

Gangetic upland

Western part of Raghunathganj, Beldanga, Berhampore

and Murshidabad, Western and southern part of Suti

near Pagla river, western part of Samsarganj, Farakka.

Gangetic lowland Nowda, southern part of Hariharpara, eastern part of

Beldanga

Rajmahal flood plain area Burwan, north- western part of Bharatpur, southern

part of Nabagram, Khargram.

Rajmahal plain land Kandi, Bharatpur, Nabagram, Khargram

Rajmahal upper plain

land

Sagardighi, Nabagram.

Source: Compiled by the scholar from Murshidabad Gazateer 2003(in Bengali), pp: 19-21.

51

From the different geological, geomorphological and soil classification it is clear

that a sharp contrast is noticed between the physical characteristics between ‘rarh’ and

‘bagri’ region of the district. The soil property of the ‘bagri’ region makes the blocks

underlying more fertile than the ‘rarh’ blocks.

3.5 CLIMATE

The rain fall of monsoon from end of June to September is well experienced.

The month of July gives the highest shower of the season; sometimes 392 millimeters of

rain fall in 1990. In September 19, 2000 the rainfall was 558.80 millimeters which

caused drastic flood in the entire district.

The entire district lies under perfect tropical monsoon type of climate. The

month of May has highest temperature. In 1995 the maximum temperature recorded

was 45 degree Celsius and minimum 25 degree Celsius.

Figure no: 3.iv changing monthly rainfall in Murshidabad District since pre-green revolution.

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

RAINFALL IN MILLIMETERS

JAN MAR MAY JUL SEPT NOV

MONTH

MONTHLY RAINFALL IN MURSHIDABAD DISTRICT

1971

1989

1991

1993

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

NORMAL

52

Figure no: 3.v Mean maximum and mean minimum temperature variation in

Murshidabad District since pre-green revolution.

Some of the rainfall records of local station of the district of few years are

tabulated to identify the pre-monsoon, monsoon and post- monsoon season at micro-

level for the district.

MEAN MAXIMUM AND MEAN MINIMUM TEMPERATURE IN

MURSHIDABAD DISTRICT

0

10

20

30

40

50

MEAN

MAX.

MEAN

MIN

MEAN

MAX

MEAN

MIN

MEAN

MAX.

MEAN

MIN

MEAN

MAX.

MEAN

MIN

MEAN

MAX.

MEAN

MIN

1970 1986 1993 2003 2006

YEAR

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEPT

OCT

NOV

DEC

53

Table no: 3.vii Statistical records of rainfall in millimeters in local record stations of

Murshidabad District

Rainfall(in millimeters) and rainfall stations of Murshidabad district

Station Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Berhampore

1985 0 9 11 4.2 135.8 170.8 190 251 92.2 125.2 0 0

1995 18 11 4.4 13 39 190.6 250.5 309 322.3 9.8 33.4 2.6

2007 0 44.8 29.9 2.8 47.3 153 499.8 231.8 377.8 90.8 1.8 0

Hariharpara

1985 0 5.8 2 31.8 107.8 130.8 181 150 111.8 121.2 0 0

1995 24.3 30.6 0 5.2 62 496.6 270.6 417.7 596.5 42.6 74.4 12.4

2007 0 55.4 46.8 12.8 182 219 499 202.6 470.1 128.6 2.5 0

Nowda

1985 0 7 x 30 105.5 138 224 x 98.4 71 0 0

1995 17 36.1 1 0.3 68.9 339.2 207.5 318.3 376.9 33.2 77.5 0

2007 0 106 72 31.4 119.6 358.8 969.6 346.8 671.2 203.4 0 0

Chandipur

1985 0 7 12 8.8 141.3 188.6 126.8 126 136.2 76 0 0

1995 17.2 21 7.6 12.6 27.2 238.6 366.7 334.2 393.2 18.2 84 6.4

2007 0 30 60.2 3.6 115.8 351.4 483 253.1 303.8 65.2 2.8 0

Raninagar

1985 0 4.4 6.3 9.5 159.4 157.8 294.3 164.3 120.3 118 0 0

1995 26.2 15 7 0 63.6 587.5 428.1 385 435.5 27.3 94 0

2007 0 67 42.8 47 147.4 289 565.2 218.4 257.2 67.8 0 0

Nabagram

1985 0 8 18.4 3.4 148.4 171.8 241.2 148.2 188.7 126 0 0

1995 19 14.5 11 9 12.3 292.6 465 571.6 543.2 4.7 91.4 10

2007 0 30.8 53.8 12.4 103.2 367.8 628 297.9 408.4 182.2 0 0

Kandi

1985 0 13.5 26.5 10.5 59.5 224.5 340 200 105 80.5 0 0

1995 32.4 25.8 10.6 45 14.6 249.6 223.1 384.4 230 34.8 35.8 7.6

2007 0 47 48.2 41.2 141.8 273 574.6 358.3 316.2 46 2.6 0

Sagardighi

1985 5 5 16 14.5 64.5 110 249 133.5 221 80 0 0

1995 13.5 23 21 10 14.5 176.4 461.7 364.7 414.4 32.9 56.6 0

2007 0 25.4 81.8 7.4 111.6 315.8 752.8 246.4 497.2 130 0 0

Source: Annual Action Plan 2010, Principal Agriculture Office, Murshidabad

3.6 VEGETATION

The natural vegetation was quite rich in Murshidabad. With time all forest areas

and orchard are converted into either agricultural land or used for non- agricultural

purposes in sub-divisional towns.

54

Natural Vegetation

The Murshidabad district comprises of deltaic type of flora. In the swampy areas

numerous marshy species are seen. Hycinth, algae are found in ponds and ditches.

Bamboos are scattered all over the district. Beside, orchards like mango, jackfruit,

guava, lemon and litchis are popular in the district. Segun, Sisoo, Simul, Tentul, Kul,

Banyan, Ashwatha, Coconut, Wild Date palm, ‘Sajne’, Eucalyptus etc. are common

trees of the district. Babla, Sal and Mahua, Palash are common in the ‘rarh’ region. To

check the soil erosion along the bank of the Ganges Babul (Acacia Arabica Willd) were

planted. Mulberry trees are common in Berhampore, Islampore and Beldanga for

sericulture.

Among the flowering plants Champa, Hibiscus, Bougainvilea, Jasmine, Rose

etc. are common. Parthenium, Cynodon dactylon Pers., Cyperus rotundus L., etc.

bushes are common in any waste land or road side. Jitpur forest in Dumkol block is a

notable area of natural vegetation presently under complete negligence.

Cultivated plants

The district cultivates predominantly rice (‘aus’, ‘aman’ and ‘boro’), wheat, and

few maize and barley. Common vegetables grown are potato, brinjal, parwal, bitter

gourd, bottle gourd, pumpkin, tomato, ‘puin’, raddish, carrot, beet, cauliflower,

cabbage, knol-khol, spinach and other leafy vegetables. The pulses grown are kalai,

khesari, masur, arhar,matar, gram, and mung. Oilseeds grown are Groundnut, rye,

mustard, til. Spices growm are kalajeera, dhania, haldi. Jute is an important fibre crop of

‘bagri’ region.

3.7 WATER RESOURCES

The district is rich in both surface water and groundwater. Among the surface

water bodies main two rivers channels distributes throughout the district.

A) Ganga- Padma River channel; its distributaries and

B) Mayurashki river channels; its distributaries.

55

The main rivers of Ganga-Padma River are Bhagirathi, Jalangi and its

distributaries like Sialmari and Bhairab. These rivers flow throughout the ‘bagri’ region

of Murshidabad. These distributaries carry water during the monsoon and remain dry in

other seasons of the year. Historical evidences illustrate that these distributaries were

used for boating but now silting had made the river shallow. Every year the silt from

Padma River has made the river Bhairab saucer shaped and now during winter ‘boro’

paddy cultivation is done in the river bed.

The Mayurakshi, - Dwarka- Brahmani River comprises of: a) river Basloi, river

Pagla, and river Gumani from the north western Rajmahal hills and b) end part of

Mayurakshi, - Dwarka- Brahmani river in the south. These paleo channels (according to

Willocks) fed the ‘rarh’ blocks of Murshidabad during monsoon accumulates sand and

shield and form a deltaic plain.

3.7(a) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SURFACE WATER

The Ganga or the Padma.River:

After bounding the extreme north the river Ganges bifurcates into two streams.

River Padma flowing south-eastern direction forms the northern and eastern boundaries

of Murshidabad. Bhagirathi River, the other branch flow southward bifurcating the

district into almost two equal halves as already mentioned in chapter one viz., the ‘rarh’

and the ‘bagri’. The Padma carries an immense volume of discharge and is very wide at

places. The main channel is constantly shifting, except high banks. Large islands are

continually rising in the channel and some are many miles in length. These islands are

in habited, cleared and cultivated by people and disputes are often raised as to the

ownerships of the ‘chars’ 7 ( Sen , J. 1988, pp: 5). The people of these shoals live in

temporary huts, for the banks are subjected to annual flooding, Example- ‘Nirmal char’

of Raghunathganj police station.

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The Bhagirathi:

The Bhagirathi takes off from the Ganga at Nurpur about twenty five miles

away from south Farakka. The river runs parallel to the Padma River for about two

miles and turns southward at Biswanathpur in Suti police station. It is very much

sinuous near Jangipur and Berhampore. The river finally debouch into the Bay of

Bengal after meeting the Jalangi river near Swarupganj in the Nadia district and hence

named as river Hoogly. The general flow of the river is from northwest to south east;

therefore, the channel Bhagirathi which flows from north to the south carries less

volume of water than the Padma River.

Jalangi:

The Jalangi River is one of the important rivers in the ‘‘bagri’’ region of

Murshidabad. This river is a tributary of Padma River. This river flows from the eastern

part of the district and diverts into southwestern direction and enters into the Nadia

district. Presently, silting has clogged the mouth of Jalangi from Padma. For few days

of the rainy season, when the discharge in the river Padma is abnormally high, some

freshets come down the bed of the river but with the fall of the Padma it continues to

dry up the course for about three kilometer from it’s off- take point remains dry. From

this point to its confluence with the river Sialmari, it was fed by local drainage (beel)

and underground seepage (Sen, J. 1988, pp: 6). Sialmari has become a mere closed ox

bow lake and presently surrounding areas of these streams are converted into

agricultural field.

The Bhairab:

This is a paleo- channel but for many years it is condemned. It takes off from

Ganga in Lalgola police station within this district, opposite to the place near where the

Mahananda flows into the Ganga.It is believed that before the Padma started carrying

the main flow of the Ganga, it used to be the continuation of the Mahananda.The

growing strength current along the Padma, its importance was cut off. The Mahananda

started to pour her water into the Padma are the course of Bhairab further deteriorated.

During the rainy season this river receives water from river Padma and for rest of the

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time in a year it remains parched. At present Bhairab run through number of blocks of

the ‘bagri’ region of Murshidabad district.

Plate no: 3.4 Shoals in River Bhairab in the month of April

Sialmari:

This river originating from River Padma moving in between Jalangi river and

the Bhairab river. After traveling shortly the river meet Jalangi with a zig- zag way like

Bhairab River. In the lower stage of journey it is also known as the Kharia.

3.7(b) OTHER SMALL RIVERS

Basloi:

From the Birbhum district the Basloi river enters into the northern boundary of

the Murshidabad district near Hussanpur. This river meets Bhagirathi near Jangipur

town in the Murshidabad district.

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Pagla:

A little southward from Basloi River, Pagla River runs through Jangipur town

and meets Bhairab River in easterly direction.

Brahmani:

The source of this river originated from Santal Pargana of Jharkhand state and

only a part of this river lies in the Birbhum district and western part of Murshidabad

District of West Bengal. The River run through Jharkhand state and enters the Birbhum

district near Narayanpur and meets with Tripiti River originating from Santal Pargana

and finally meets with the Brahmani –Dwarka near Sakoghat in Murshidabad District.

Dwarka –Babla:

This River has many names like the Banka and the Chora Dekra and has many

distributaries.Among them the main river enters the district near Morgram from the

Birbhum district.At first it flows in an easterly direction until its waters are augmented

by those of the Brahmani at Ramchandrapur. It turns towards the south-east and joined

on its right bank by the Mor and the Kuiya, another two river flowing down from

Birbhum district. Numerous backwaters and side channels connect with the Bhagirathi

and c’aus’es many morphological confusion.The main streams also forms the eastern

boundary of the Kandi subdivision and quit the district at Raghupur.During rainy season

this river turns into rapid current and is liable to sudden flood.

3.7(c) WETLANDS / BACKWATERS

Most of the wetlands/backwaters, cut-off from rivers locally known as ‘beels’

are now physically not found due to conversion of land into agricultural field or

settlement.

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Table no: 3.viii Wetlands in Murshidabad District

Name of the

wetlands/beels Area/ length Police station covering

Ahiran beel 3000 acre Farakka

Baloler beel Not known Khargram

Bar beel 5000 bigha Domkal

Basiar beel 15 kilometers in length Nabagram, Sagardighi

Bhishnupur beel Not found Berhampore

Dudhsar beel 8000 bigha Domkal

Gobra Nala/

Bhanderdaha beel 9 km Murshidabad, Berhampore,

Hariharpara, Beldanga, Nowda

Hizal 50 sq. miles during rainy

season Kandi

Kakrajol 2500 bigha Jalangi

Kati-Ganga Not found Berhampore

Mundamala Not known Burwan

Patan beel 3000 Bighas Khargram

Ramna beel 7000 bigha Domkal

Telkar beel 11000 bigha Berhampore

Source: Murshidbad Gazateer 2003 in (Bengali) & field report by the scholar pp: 26-27.

Some of the minor ‘beels’ are: Chander beel, Chaltia beel, Catrar beel,

Swetakhar beel, Kumirdaha, Golahat, Bhayankardah, Jhinukdah, Sankar beel,

Namobeel, Lalderi beel under Berhampore police station.

Dumnidah, Rampara beel, Pat beel, Sujapur beel, Senduri beel under Beldanga

police station.

Charkha beel, Semiya beel, Chotobaloon beel, Gobra beel, Lakidah beel, Gongla

beel under Kandi police station.

Sherpur beel, Sialmari beel, Geolmari beel, Paton, Sakora, Noida beel under

Khargram police station.

Lohodah, Budhupara, Sherpur beel under Bharatpur police station.

Jamiur, Akumba, Parulia, Pathar bali beel, under Raghunathganj police

station.

Geolmari, Jamangarh, Bora beel under Domkal police station.

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3.7(d) SUB-SURFACE WATER

Alluvial deposits by the river systems from unconsolidated thick zone of

saturated groundwater. The sand and gravel horizons of different textures constitute

main aquifers and occur down to 90-350 meter below ground level (mbgl).

4Nomenclatures of the hydro-geology of Bangladesh studied by Mukherjee et.al. (2007)

stated that the aquifers in the West Bengal probably belong to 1) Late Pleistocene to

Holocene Ganges Sediments, 2) Early to middle Pleistocene coastal and moribund

Ganges delta deep aquifers composed of stacked, main-channel, medium to coarse

sands at depth more than 130 m. The aquifer is highly productive, and water table

encountered within 15 mbgl. The groundwater flow system consist of shallow system

(over lateral distances of a few kilometers) between local topographic features and

intermediate to regional flows (ten to hundreds of kilometers long) between major

topographic features or basin boundaries. Groundwater movement in areas of flat

topography in the Bengal basin may be mostly vertical and lateral flow limited to local

scale (J.V. Wonderen, Sir, M, Macdonald Ltd.,2006 in Mukherjee et.al. 2007, pp: 4-5).

Surface water and groundwater interaction generally occurs within local flow system

Plate no: 3.5 Blocked Gobra nala with water hyacinth in the month of October

Plate no: 3.6 Blocked drainage beside road,

Hariharpara Block, Murshidabad District.

61

(Mukherjee et.al. 2007). Large River like Bhagirathi-Hoogly is losing its importance in

irrigating the agricultural field.

According to CGWB, 2007 twenty six community development blocks are

categorized under the head ‘safe’, ‘semi- critical’, and ‘critical’ condition depending on

groundwater availability.

Table no: 3.ix Status of groundwater in Murshidabad District

Critical Semicritical Safe

Burwan Berhampore Farakka

Bharatpur-I Bhagawangola-I Samsarganj

Bharatpur-II

Bhagawangola-II Raghunathganj-I

Domkal Raghunathganj-II

Hariharpara Kandi

Lalgola Beldanga-I

Murshidabad- Jiaganj Beldanga-II

Nabagram Jalangi

Nowda Khargram

Raninagar-I

Raninagar-II Sagardighi

Suti-I

Suti-II

Source: CGWB Report, 2007.

The Chemical quality of groundwater in the area in general is of Ca- Mg- HCO

type. The Chloride content in groundwater is low (18-96 mg/l). The water is mainly

neutral to mildly alkaline in nature and pH value ranges between 706 and 8.2. Total

hardness as CaCO3 ranges from 150-410 mg/l. Generally iron content ranges from 0.1-

0.55 mg/l but in few places it is found even of the order of 5.11 mg/l in Hariharpara

block and 11.0mg/l in Raninagar – II block (water collected from field survey, see

Appendix-C:). In chapter five more detailed discussions about the sub-surface water

shows that groundwater presently is the agricultural back bone for Murshidabad

District.

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3.8 CONCLUSION

The natural parameter of Murshidabad encourages groundwater irrigation. Some

researchers’ support more water extraction from underground while some opposes in

doing so. In chapter four an appraisal is done about the agricultural enhancement with

Green Revolution although a little later than the western districts of India. After four

decade what is the present situation of landuse, productivity of land and

interrelationship between the irrigational facilities and water available are the main foci

of discussion.

REFERENCES:

1. Bhattacharya, A. and Banerjee, S.N. (1979): “Quarternary Geology and

Geomorphology of the Ajay- Bhagirathi Valley, Birbhum and Murshidabad district,

West Bengal.” Indian Journal of Earth Science. Vol. 6(1): pp: 91-102.

2. Dressler et.al.(2006) in “HYDROMORPHOLOGY” by Richard M. Vogel, Journal

of Water Resources Planning and Management, in Press; vol.137(2), 2011.

3. Gazetteer of India (1979), West Bengal District, census handbook, Murshidabad

district, Government of West Bengal; by A. Mitra pp: 2-20.

4. Mukherjee, A.; Fryay, A. E. ; Howell, P. D.(2007); ‘ Regional hydrostratigraphy

and groundwater medelling in the arsenic- affected areas of the western Bengal

basin, West Bengal , India’, Journal of hydrogeology, Siringer- Verlag. DOI

10.1007/s10040-007-0208-7.

5. Murshidabad district gazetteer (2003), West Bengal District Gazeteer, Government

of West Bengal pp:14-45.

6. Roychowdhury. et. al. (2002): “Arsenic and other heavy metals in soils from an

arsenic- affected area of West Bengal, India.” Chemosphere, Vol.49, pp 605-618.

7. Sen, J. (1988), “Land Utilization and Population Distribution A case study of West

Bengal 1850-1985” Daya Publishing House, Delhi, pp: vii-20