Cyclone and Storm Surge - Iczmpwb.org

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model studies carried out Kolkata, Pune and Hamburg (Germany). This is, of course, has been done
with the intention of maintaining the navigable channels at Kolkata and Haldia ports. The protection
measures for the Nayachara Island have been completed by the KPT under this scheme.
The rest of the embankments under the I&WD need extensive repair and protection, if the interests of
the population residing within these circuit embankments need to be protected. This is all the more
important as most of the islands face the wrath of not only the storm surge waves, but also the strong
gales associated with the cyclones.
2.7. Threat of damage from tropical cyclones
The vulnerability of the eastern coastal region of the State of West Bengal due to cyclones is due to
the two reasons: (a) Erosion of the river and creek banks of network of channels the due to strong
river currents, and (b) The damage to the embankments by the impact of the wave dashes that
generate due to cyclonic storms. These waves could be the direct waves from the oceans hitting the
embankments facing the sea. Or, these could be the waves diffused in the tidal creeks that hit the
embankments in the hinterland.
The other threat from cyclonic storms is due to the damage of infrastructure due to the excessively
strong winds. In the coastal regions of the state, the general socio-economic condition of the local
populace is rather low. Consequently, the housing types mostly belong to those made of mud,
bamboo and other locally available raw materials. The roofs of most of these kutcha houses are
made of thatch, though baked tiles are also common. However, all these are quite vulnerable to
strong gusts of wind.
The cyclonic depressions also generate a lot of precipitation. The inhabited areas of Sundarbans are
mostly enclosed by circuit embankments and hence a lot of rain results in waterlogged conditions at
the time of cyclones. According to Kanjilal (2006), proper field drainage is required to bring excess
water from the farm plots and the village area to the main drainage canals and to keep the ground
water level sufficiently low. The slope required for the transport of this excess water needs to be in
line with the available head determined by the difference in level of the farm plots and the water
surface in the main canal to which the excess water needs to be evacuated. The system of canals
and ponds which is supposed to:
• Collect and to store the water to be used later for agricultural or domestic purposes,