International Journal of Social Science & Interdisciplinary Research__________________________________ ISSN 2277-3630 IJSSIR, Vol. 4 (4), APRIL (2015) Online available at indianresearchjournals.com 37 DUNE CHANGES AND ITS IMPACT AT DIGHA COAST OF WEST BENGAL NIRMALYA DAS ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, PANSKURA BANAMALI COLLEGE, PURBA MEDINIPUR-721152, WB, INDIA. ABSTRACT Coastal zones are geomorphologically dynamic, ecologically sensitive, biologically productive and environmentally hazard prone under the events of cyclones and tidal waves. In present day the coastal areas stands as a collision course between the two ways changes – expected natural changes and human related developmental changes. The developmental activities in coastal areas are introduced for many purposes like tourism, construction of sea port and fishing harbours etc. contributes to habitat loss in many ways such as destruction of dunes, wetlands, coastal vegetations, soils and by filling and dumping of wastes. Viewing these aspects, Digha coast as an important sea resort of West Bengal has been taken as an important area of study for both natural changes and changes due to anthropogenic activities. The cyclones and tidal waves caused a significant lowering of beach surface of Digha coastal area. The changes of dunes and lowering of beach at Digha coastal area influenced on the permanent settlements of the coastal villages. The changes and alteration of dunes has been analyzed from both natural and anthropogenic view point and shows its impact on shelter-environment problem of coastal villages. KEY WORDS: Coastal dunes, beach lowering, anthropogenic activities, shelter-environment problem, coastal zone management. 1. Introduction: Geomorphology, ecology and society of the coast area offer the most significant aspects of modern environmental issues for the coastal studies. In coastal areas the shoreline buffers are very much dynamic under the influence the fluvio- marine processes and anthropogenic activities. Coastal areas may be more vulnerable to erosion if these buffers are lost due to development related activities of man coastal sand dunes, sandy beaches, saltmarshes and mangrove swamps, estuaries and coastal lowlands provide a particular set of environmental conditions for the organisms inhabitating there. These coastal habitats are in a delicate balance under the geomorphology or the non- leaving factors like waves, tides, currents and winds. Any human activities may cause a dramatic change in the ecosystem functions of the coastal habitats. The development al activity in the coastal areas contributes to habitat loss in a number of ways. Destruction of sand dunes and wet lands for urbanization, tourism, agricultural expansion and shrimp farming causes the changes of shoreline structure. Several embankment projects along the bark of down streams have led to changes in the physical environment of the delta habitats at present. The people of the coastal area rely on marine resources for food, settlement sites, agriculture and recreational grounds and exploit the coastal areas as a dumping site for urban- industrial sewage, open sewage for tourist centres and several toxic wastes. The changes of dunes and lowering of beach influenced the permanent settlement of the coastal areas mainly on