Assessing the Shifting of the River Ganga Along Malda District of West Bengal, India Using Temporal Satellite Images

River shifting is a natural process. The present study focuses on the shifting character of the Ganga River along the Malda district. The shifting of the river was observed from 1990 to 2020. This study used Satellite images and GIS tools to understand river shifting. It can be stated that the River Ganga is shifting towards its left bank. This means left bank erosion is much more than right bank erosion. The river shifting has increased with time. A more meandering shape of the river was observed in 2020 than in 2015. Farakka barrage plays an important role in flood and erosion as well as the deposition of sediments. People in Manikchak, Kaliachak-II, and Kaliachak-III blocks of Malda district West Bengal were highly affected due to this river shifting in the lower course of the Ganga River. A few portions of the Rajmahal block of Jharkhand, located on the right side of the river are also affected.