Journal of Environment and Sociobiology

Mrinal Mandal ¹, Debasis Ghosh ², Biswajit Ghosh ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Geography, Sidho-Kanho-Birsha University, Purulia, West Bengal, IN
2 Department of Geography, University of Calcutta, West Bengal, IN
3 Department of Geography, Barabazar Bikram Tudu Memorial College, Purulia, West Bengal, IN

Abstract

Indiscriminate and unscientific sand mining has become a serious environmental threat to the river systems and its surrounding environment. The rapid rate of urbanization has increased the demand for sand, which is supplied from river bed through sand mining. Sand mining from river bed results in channel degradation and erosion, change in local gradient, head cutting, increased turbidity, bank erosion and sedimentation of riffle areas and ruins its flow regimes and total sedimentary environment. In lower reaches of Ajay river, unscientific sand mining is a serious issue from Illambajar (Birbhum) to Mongalkot (Burdwan) fluvial environment of Ajay river basin, which is highly affected by in-stream sand mining. Natural morphological characteristics of Ajay river are changed and damaged due to over mining of sand. Excessive in-stream sand mining is a threat to Illambajar bridge and Nutanhut bridge. River embankments are also affected by river bed mining. Sand mining also affects the adjoining groundwater system. In Mongalkot and Ketugram Blocks (Burdwan), ground water level becomes lower than the past. Sand mining also generates extra vehicle traffic, which negatively impairs the environment and pollution level continuously gets higher. Total station survey was carried out to detect the changes in river bed. Topographical sheets and satellite images were geocoded to extract past status of river health and tried to correlate with the present situation. GPS (Handheld-Germin etrexH-20) was used as necessary tool in the present study. The main objective of the present study is to evaluate the impact of sand mining on riparian environment.

Keywords

Sand Mining, Sedimentation, Head Cutting, Embankments, Organism.

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Tuhin Chatterjee ¹, Biswajit Ghosh ¹

Affiliations
1 Plant Bio-technology Laboratory, Post Graduate Department of Botany, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College, Rahara, Kolkata-700 118, West Bengal, IN

Abstract

Micropropagation of medicinal plants is used to produce active compounds for herbal and pharmaceutical industries. This procedure is considered to provide optimal levels of carbohydrates, organic compounds, mineral nutrients. Environmental factors and growth regulators influence high regeneration rates of many in vitro grown plant species, and thus assisting in micropropagation. Micropropagation protocols have been developed for a wide range of medicinal plants, including endangered and vulnerable ones. In this communication the role of in vitro propagation of medicinal plants is briefly reviewed.

Keywords

Medicinal Plants, Micropropagation, Importance, Genetic Evaluation.

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