Specific Coastal Issues Of Digha Coast, West Bengal

Coastal environment plays a vital role in a nation’s economy by virtue of their resources, productive habitats and rich biodiversity. The coastal belt is about 14km length from the Orissa border to Jaldha mouja, situated in the district of Purba Medinipur of West Bengal, India, and it is well known as Digha coast. The coast is doubly vulnerable today on one hand, it is facing unprecedented pressures because of tourism and urban development; on the other hand, it is threatened by climate change related devastation from growing intensities of cyclonic storms to sea surges and eventual sea level rise. Frequent embankment failures, submergence and flooding, beach erosion and siltation at jetties and navigational channels, cyclones and storm surges are all making this area increasingly vulnerable. The present paper attempts to highlight the various coastal issues of Digha coast, West Bengal.