Degradation of Ecological Condition of River and its Effect on River-Side Society:A Case Study of River Churni, Nadia, West Bengal

River Churni is a very important river of Nadia district, West Bengal. It performs important role in geo-morphological, environmental, sociological and economic status of the district. Studies have revealed that due to huge pollution load from diffused sources, ecological condition of the river is in critical state. The degrading ecological condition casts some adverse impacts upon socio-economic condition of the river-side villages. As such the present study was undertaken to estimate the whole scenario of the Churni river pollution. The river loses its natural productivity especially in its upstream. Rest of the part of the total stretch is facing serious threat of ecodegradation. Some fishes have been found to be eliminated completely from the stretch. Huge variations in the limnological parameters and presence of only 33 fish species (mostly present in middle and lower stretch) in the river have been evident during the total stretch of the study. The fishermen from the said arena have compelled to quit their occupation owing to the aforesaid degrading condition of the river. In this study, seasonal variation of limnological parameters, present status of fish fauna and socio-economic structure of the riverside fishermen community have been beaconed to compare the previous and recent conditions. Comparing the result with the previous reports, about 61.35% fishermen are found to switch over their occupation since last 2 decades. About 72.73% in upstream, 65% in mid-stream and 25% in downstream have been recorded as elimination rate of fish since the period. Decreasing rate of dissolved oxygen (DO) and increasing Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) indicate the deterioration of water quality. To cope up with this problem, suggestions have been discussed in several awareness programmes, seminars at grass ischolar_main level in the river side areas, conducted by the research team. It is also found that the actual development of the riverine ecosystem and socio-economic condition of the riverside communities can be improved only by the proper interference of Governmental actions.