| Publication |
2014.
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| Summary/Abstract |
Sandy beaches along the 220km long West Bengal coast on the Northwest coast of the Bay of Bengal have not received much attention in the recent past despite their continual degradation both from natural forces and man-made activities related to construction of hotels, destruction of sand dunes and dune vegetation, beach- sand mining, discharge of hotel wastes directly onto the beach, and unscientific beach protection measures (Bhattacharya et al., 2003, Bhattacharya etal. 2009). Unethical and rampant use of this coastal zone by hoteliers, often violating the Coastal Zone Regulations (CRZ), has been vandalizing certain beach stretches for over two decades now. (wvvw. Dishaearth.org./mandarmoni). Burgeoning population growth in the state is causing increasing use of beaches for pleasure, recreation, and leisure activities throughout the year. Together with this, as pointed out by Klein (1985), beaches support coastal economics, commercial development, tourism and shift of population to the coastal areas.
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