Question

For the port city of Kolkata, give a brief account of the following aspect:

Main problem of the port

Answer 1

Kolkata port faces several problems primarily due to its geographical and riverine conditions:

• It suffers from severe silting caused by frequent tidal bores entering the river, forming sandy bars and islands.
• The river Hugli is in its old stage and has many bends, which create navigation difficulties for ships, as there is no straight passage from the coast to the port.
• The depth of water is gradually declining, necessitating constant dredging to allow larger vessels to enter.
• Maintaining the port has become costly, and expert pilots are required to guide ships safely.
• The construction of the Farakka barrage on the Ganga was intended to help by diverting water to maintain river depth, but due to the water treaty between India and Bangladesh, adequate water is not always available in the Hugli river.
• Overall, the port suffers from problems associated with ‘bends’, ‘bars’, and ‘bores’ along the river.