Shatabdi Das

The location of Kolkata stretching along the northern fringes of the southern-most end of the Gangetic delta makes the capital city of the state of West Bengal in eastern India vulnerable and prone to the shocks and stresses of climate change and natural disasters. Kolkata is at heightened risk of rapid sea level rise, periods of intense rainfall, cyclonic activity and storm surges – funds and adequate infrastructure capacity become imperative in such cases to make urban spaces climate-change resilient. The research project looks into the trend of demographic and infrastructural development along with the climatic catastrophes (storms, cyclones) from the years 2000 to 2021, in and around Kolkata. The research explores the designs of plans and policies for making the city resilient to climate change. The project will study the role of disaster management authority, law and governance, and coastal zone management acts in combating climate crises and urban issues.