Rivers and Human Life in Dakshin Dinajpur District, West Bengal, India

Rivers play a vital role in the geographical, economic, social, and cultural life of the Dakshin Dinajpur district of West Bengal. Major rivers such as the Atreyee, Phunababa, Tangan, Yamuna, shrimati and Ich Hamati influence the field of agriculture, fisheries, settlement patterns, communication, and local culture. Most people of the district depend directly or indirectly on river-based resources for their livelihood. But the problems like riverbank erosion, pollution, and seasonal water scarcity have created serious challenges for local people. This paper attempts to analyse the relationship between rivers and human life in Dakshin Dinajpur and also highlights the major river-related problems and possible conservation methods.