River Systems and Water Resources of West Bengal:

With an area of 88,752 km2, West Bengal is the 14th largest

state of India. However, at 1,029 persons km�2, it is the second
most densely populated. The density goes up to 1,198 persons
km�2 if the forests and other unusable areas are excluded
from estimation. The state is bestowed with vast expanses of
alluvial plains that have made it the top rice and jute producing
state of India, accounting for 15% and 77% of national
production respectively. Served by an efficient irrigation
system, the state�s net sown area covers 88% of its cultivable
area with a cropping intensity of 177%. West Bengal also ranks
first in freshwater fish production (DoSPI-GoWB, 2012). All
these demonstrate the significance of water in the state�s
economy.
The present article attempts to portray a comprehensive
and holistic picture of West Bengal�s water resources � their
evolution, characteristics, distribution and the major issues
that would govern their future management.