THE GHATS OF KOLKATA: A SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL PALIMPSEST OF HERITAGE, LIVELIHOOD, AND URBAN DECAY
Kolkata, Ghats, Hugli River, Urban Ecology, Cultural Heritage, Water Pollution, Informal Livelihoods
Kolkata's historic ghats, the stepped embankments along the Hugli River, are vital socio-cultural and economic arteries of the city. However, they exist in a paradoxical state of immense traditional importance and severe environmental degradation. This paper investigates the multifaceted role of four iconic Ghats; the spiritual Mayer Ghat, the commercial Mullick Ghat, the functional Babu Ghat, and the monumental Princep Ghat—to understand their historical evolution and contemporary socio-ecological status. Employing a mixed-method approach that integrates historical analysis, in-depth interviews, and a physico-chemical assessment of river water quality, the study reveals the ghats as critical interfaces for religious rituals, community congregation, informal livelihoods, and urban transport. Findings indicate that these intense, often unregulated, human activities have led to profound environmental stress. Water quality is severely compromised, with alarmingly high levels of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), and Fecal coliforms, alongside critical heavy metal contamination This ecological decay, coupled with infrastructural neglect and fragmented management, threatens not only the riverine ecosystem but also the cultural heritage and economic sustenance that the ghats provide. The paper concludes that Kolkata's ghats are a complex palimpsest of heritage and decay, whose preservation demands an integrated management strategy that reconciles cultural practices, livelihood needs, and ecological restoration.
"THE GHATS OF KOLKATA: A SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL PALIMPSEST OF HERITAGE, LIVELIHOOD, AND URBAN DECAY", IJSDR - International Journal of Scientific Development and Research (www.IJSDR.org), ISSN:2455-2631, Vol.10, Issue 6, page no.c215-c219, June-2025, Available :https://ijsdr.org/papers/IJSDR2506237.pdf
Volume 10
Issue 6,
June-2025
Pages : c215-c219
Paper Reg. ID: IJSDR_303861
Published Paper Id: IJSDR2506237
Downloads: 000164
Research Area: Science All
Country: North 24 Parganas , West Bengal, India
ISSN: 2455-2631 | IMPACT FACTOR: 9.15 Calculated By Google Scholar | ESTD YEAR: 2016
An International Scholarly Open Access Journal, Peer-Reviewed, Refereed Journal Impact Factor 9.15 Calculate by Google Scholar and Semantic Scholar | AI-Powered Research Tool, Multidisciplinary, Monthly, Multilanguage Journal Indexing in All Major Database & Metadata, Citation Generator
Publisher: IJSDR(IJ Publication) Janvi Wave
