Geo-Statistical Assessment of the Intensity, Duration, Frequency and Trend of Drought over Gangetic West Bengal, Eastern India

This chapter presents spatio-temporal (1901–2002) appraisal of the intensity, duration, frequency and trend of drought over Gangetic West Bengal (GWB), Eastern India using standardized precipitation index (SPI). The study reveals that, after 1950s the magnitude of deficit precipitation has increased substantially. Stepping up of the mean intensity of most intense drought events; average drought duration; severe and extreme drought frequency in this agricultural tract at the latter half of the twentieth century are also some alarming events. The western degraded plateau is more sensitive to extreme droughts but, the impact is expected to be rigorous over the adjacent areas. In an nutshell this work provides the evidences demonstrating the intensification of aridity in the northern Rarh plain and moribund delta which may corresponds to degradation and lowering of water resources especially ground water which may also lead to increase of socio-economic vulnerability to drought. Such altered hydrolo-meteorological system hence calls for review of the agricultural practices and water use in this counterpart