Benefits, Problems and Management of Wetlands: A Case of Damodar Alluvial Tract in Barddhaman District, West Bengal

Abstract

Wetlands are multifaceted and highly fertile ecosystems that have hydrological, ecological, socio-
economical significance in India. Wetland, logically called biological supermarket, kidney of biosphere,
granary of resources, has an interface of land and water. Being one of the wetland richest districts of
West Bengal, Barddhaman district stands first and second positions respectively in terms of number
and area.

In case of wetlands in humid tropics especially in Barddhaman District, many of the subsistence
uses of wetlands resources are not taken into account and are ignored in development decisions.
Maximum wetlands are used for commercial fishing and domestic purposes while at the same timethey
are being used for waste water treatment. Always it’s a great problem for getting maximum benefit for the
society from the utilization of wetlands due to climatic variability, which needs an in-depth study of the
same. In this context systematic survey of existing wetlands and laboratory analysis of water samples
have been done in the study area for the economic and ecological assessment of this hydrogical
resource. Stakeholders, fisherman’s family, NGOs, Govt. and other users of wetlands who are directly
and indirectly dependent on wetlands were also interviewed. It may be pointed out that wetlands
provide an alternative source of income for the people of a particular region.

Keeping the above in backdrop the present paper attempted to find out the existing problems and
prospects of wetland as well as management measures for the overall sustainable development in the
area under study.