PROJECT REPORT ON THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT OF

AMHERST STREET

AECC-2-ENVS (ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES)

NAME- SINCHITA SAHA

DEPARTMENT- HISTORY

ROLL NUMBER- 222032-11-0084

REGISTRATION NUMBER- 032-1211-0101-22

SUBMISSION DATE- 25.O4.2023

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

25th April 2023

I would like to acknowledge Calcutta University and my Principal Sr. Coutinho for giving me this project, and
my ENVS Professor Dr. Sinha for her vital cooperation and help in ensuring the successful completion of my
assignment. She deserves the utmost credit for the assignment’s outcome.

Finally, I would want to convey my sincere thanks to my friends and supporters, without them, the task would
not have been accomplished in such a timely manner.

Sinchita Saha

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 CONTENTS
Sl.No Topic Pg No Remark
1. Introduction 4
2. Components of Local Environment 5,6
3. Environment Issues 7,8
4. Role of the Community 9,10
5. Conclusion 10

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INTRODUCTION

WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES (ENVS)?

Environmental Studies can be defined as the branch of the study concerned with environmental issues. It is an
multidisciplinary academic field which systematically studies human interaction with the environment in the
interests of solving complex problems. Environmental studies is the application of knowledge with many
disciples to the study and management of environment, which it deals with the analysis of the conditions and
circumstances influencing life and how life in turn responds1 It bring together the principles of the physical
sciences, commerce/economics and social sciences so as to solve contemporary environmental problems. The
environment consists of four segments of the earth namely atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere.

NEED TO STUDY ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY?

Our environment plays a critical role in the survival of several living organisms. In simple words, we can define
the environment as our surroundings with several biotic and abiotic components. Thus, it is clear that
environmental studies are vital, adopt a more sustainable lifestyle, and utilize resources responsibly-

Pollution, growing population, deforestation, depletion of natural resources, and other disasters are behind
environmental concerns. An individual or government cannot maintain environmental sustainability alone. We
all should have a contribution to its protection from damage.

For the proper guidance on the values, skills, knowledge, and tools to work against the challenges, both formal
and informal environmental education methods are needed.
To prepare the present generation for environmental protection, we need environmental studies.
With the continuous diminishing of the earth’s resources, it is for sure that something has to be done.
Now the time has come when every citizen of the world has to be aware and actively participate in protecting this
beautiful environment2

1
Dr.Sujan Kumar Bala, Environmental Studies Model Field & Project Work, Kolkata, Maity Book House,2009,
pp-1
2
https://www.earthreminder.com/importance-of-environmental-studies/
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COMPONENTS OF LOCAL ENVIRONMENT
Amherst Street is a north–south street in Central Kolkata in the Indian state of West Bengal. The street was
named after William Amherst, 1st Earl Amherst. It has been renamed as Raja Rammohan Roy Sarani after Raja
Rammohan Roy, one of the most famous social-reformers of India. The road starts from Vivekanada
Road crossing (Chaltabagan, Maniktala) and extends up to Bepin Behari Ganguly Street crossing
(Lebutala, Bowbazr) via MG Road crossing and Surya Sen Street crossing. On the extreme north lies Raja
Rammohan Roy Memorial Museum and on the extreme south lies the Bank of India (Bowbazar).

Amherst Street police station is part of the North and North Suburban Division of Kolkata Police. It is located at
57, Raja Rammohan Sarani, Kolkata-700009.

Amherst Street Women police station, located at the same address as above covers all police districts under the
jurisdiction of the North and North Suburban division i.e. Amherst Street, Jorabagan, Shyampukur, Cossipore,
Chitpur, Sinthi, Burtolla and Tala.

MAP OF AMHERST STREET

https://www.mapsofindia.com/kolkata/amherst-row.html

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ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENTS

The air quality index in Amherst Street is moderate. It may cause breathing discomfort to people on prolonged
exposure, and discomfort to people with heart disease.

AIR QUALITY INDEX OF AMHERST STREET

Air pollution level Air quality index Main pollutant

Moderate 82 US AQI PM2.5

Pollutants Concentration

PM2.5 27µg/m³

PM10 38.4µg/m³

O3 68.3µg/m³

NO2 20.3µg/m³

SO2 22.6µg/m³

CO 350.5µg/m³

Source- IQAir3

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https://www.iqair.com/us/india/west-bengal/kolkata
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ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

WATER LOGGING AT AMHERST STREET & ITS SURROUNDING

The city of Kolkata, and its pluvial condition is controlled by the city’s sit specific locational attributes and its
climate. Situated in a part of the Indo-Gangetic plain, Kolkata rests of the floodplains of the Hooghly
River along the eastern and western flanks.
Many areas of Kolkata suffer from severe water logging during the monsoons, this study emphasizes on the major
streets of North, and Central Kolkata, such as Amherst Street, Bidhan Sarani (formerly known as Cornwallis
Street), Chittaranjan Avenue.
Bidhan Chandra Roy, starts from Shyambazar five-point crossing and extends till Mahatma Gandhi Road,
after which the street continues as College Street. Bidhan Sarani includes the areas of Shyambazar, Hatibagan,
Hedua, Shimla, Thanthania and College Street. In the northern section of Kolkata, lies Chittaranjan Avenue,
Sankar Ghosh Lane, where water logging during the monsoon months is a major problem. Central Avenue
or Chittaranjan Avenue is a arterial road maintaining north-central connection in Kolkata. Sankar Ghosh lane
lies across Cornwallis Street and is well known for its location near an age old temple. The area around it is
also well known being one of the only places where rescue boats ply as a result of waist high waters during
heavy showers.
The above mentioned streets most of which were built during the British era still have old pipelines having a
finite capacity for draining out excess water. As literature suggests, since the past 7 years, these streets and
their neighbourhood have been a victim of pluvial flooding during the monsoon months. Once the amount of
rainfall increases to about 100 cms, a situation arises where the street begins to allow accumulation of water.
According to newspapers and the administrative officials, the main causal agents have been silting of the
old drains &sewer blockades which are in need of intense clearing. This is followed by problems of garbage
dumping clogging the drains, brick sewers, lack of maintenance, drain channel constriction and collapsing
problems, excessive rainfall, problem of old pipelines, administrative delays, fund crunches, outdated
designs, power failures, pumping problems, slackness of labourers, road pits.
Chittaranjan Avenue, Amherst street, Cornwallis street, Sankar Ghosh Lane, as the analysis suggests are
all endowed with undulations. The profile of Kolkata has a general slope from west to east, with certain abrupt
changes along the surface. This has been shown in the following figure where the streets of Kolkata have
also been super imposed. Such abrupt undulations allow sudden pluvial flooding. As soon as the rain water
flows along these streets, the water flows into these so called depressions. Since the drains along these roads
are along the sides of the roads, the accumulated water along their midsections do not get the adequate slope
to trickle out as the roads have not been built in a ridge like fashion.
In most of the streets elevations range between 15 to 25m from sea level, indicating the uneven profile of
the roads. The problem of water logging will remain a persistent phenomenon, along either side of the road,

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unless the road structure is altered soon. This is because the mid section is elevated while the rest of the
stretch is at a much lower elevation. Therefore to clear the water logging the lids of the manholes have
to be removed, which is quite risky as people might fall into them.
WASTE DUMPING IN DRAIN

Source- By Author

Source- Suvrajitd.wordpress.com4

WATER LOGGING AT AMHERST STREET

4
https://suvrajitd.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/dsc_2640-3.jpg?w=1024
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ROLE OF COMMUNITY
It is evident that water-logging can be controlled only if the quantity of water into the soil below is checked and
reduced. To achieve this, the inflow of water into the underground reservoir should be reduced and the outflow
from this reservoir should be increased. The various measures adopted for controlling water-logging are
enumerated below:
➢ Lining of canals and watercourses.
➢ Providing intercepting drain.
➢ Provision of an efficient drainage system.
➢ Improving the natural drainage of the area.

Source- www.dnaindia.com5

STEPS THAT ARE TAKEN BY THE COMMUNITY

Residents and apartments near this water logging areas took measures of getting the average household septic
system inspected every three years by a septic service professional. Children are especially sensitive to water-
borne diseases and contamination in drinking water. A particular effort was started in 2020 to make the provision
of potable tap water supply in schools.
A comprehensive waste management policy is required, one that emphasises the importance of decentralised
garbage disposal procedures since this will encourage private actors to participate.
Wastes should not be dumped into the local drains because during rainy season these drains are blocked and water
can not pass through it which causes water logging.

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https://cdn.dnaindia.com/sites/default/files/styles/full/public/2018/04/18/673167-waterlogging-02.jpg
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Source- www.gettyimages.co.uk6

CONCLUSION

Water-logging is a problem in any urban landscape. It hinders the urban metabolism. Since urbanisation brings
with itself the development of artificial land cover, water logging becomes a common phenomenon, as
infiltration is not allowed by metalled surfaces. Kolkata, one of the oldest developed megacities of the world,
faces the same problem. Major areas of thoroughfare such a the streets of northern and central Kolkata such as
Amherst Street, Central Avenue, Keshab Chandra Street etc., are the worst affected areas within the city.
Although the administrative authorities believe that water logging occurs due to siltation of the drainage
pipelines, failure of pumps. The structure of the roads and the adjacent placement of the drains is not in
tune. People further aggravate the situation by clogging the mouth of drains by dumping rubbish. For proper
management of the existing problem, certain measures may be adopted such as, changing the road structure
into a ridge like pattern where water slopes down the drain at the sides, proper cleaning of the pipes and its
dredging, developing underground reservoirs to aid rainwater harvesting systems at various institutional
and household levels.

6https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/heavy-water-logging-after-rain-shower-at-ring-road-inderprastha-near-
picture-id1233981091?s=594x594
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REFERENCES
Writing
Introduction-
Bala, Dr.Sujan Kumar 2009. Environmental Studies Model Field & Project Work, Maity Book House, Kolkata,
pp-1
https://www.earthreminder.com/importance-of-environmental-studies/

Map-
https://www.mapsofindia.com/kolkata/amherst-row.html
Air Quality Index-
https://www.iqair.com/us/india/west-bengal/kolkata
Pictures-
https://suvrajitd.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/dsc_2640-3.jpg?w=1024
https://cdn.dnaindia.com/sites/default/files/styles/full/public/2018/04/18/673167-waterlogging-02.jpg

https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/heavy-water-logging-after-rain-shower-at-ring-road-inderprastha-near-
picture-id1233981091?s=594x594

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