Chemistry and Microbiology :

This section, is equipped to undertake quite a range of work in the field of chemical and microbiological assessment of environmentally important systems like wetlands, lakes, ponds, rivers liquid and solid waste etc.

Survey and Mapping :

Geographical and geological survey of environmentally sensitive areas like wetlands, lakes, coast, mangrove forest etc. according to the needs of the different department and agencies of the Government of West Bengal also of other States are undertaken by this section, in order to understand their status from the standpoint of deterioration due to anthropogenic activities like pollution and encroachment. Based on these surveys and with extensive use of Remote Sensing Imageries, specific maps are produced in this for the use of the government department and agencies.

Agriculture Resource Management

In this section a number of R & D Projects related to agriculture using different types of satellite data have been undertaken. Presently acreage and production estimation of different crops, cropping system study, crop rotation observation are also being carried out with GIS application. This section is equipped with a full fledged Digital Data Processing System which has been operated by a team of trained scientists.

Policy Planning Section

This unit of the Institute is engaged to study the social issues related to environment in general and wetlands in particular. Following topics are chosen for carrying out studies for the micro level planning Authority viz. District Planning Committees.

1. 1. Natural Resource Management using PRA Method at the micro level.
   2. Agriculture Management Practice in the context of sustainable agriculture.
   3. Social Survey on the existing resource management practice at the micro level.

Coastal Zone Mapping Section 

This wing monitor the activities along the coastal zone through Remote Sensing Imageries and also Ground Truth Verification. For the last several year this division is carrying out intensive work of the Coastal Zone, starting from landuse, landform, habitats, groundwater etc., trying to establish the linkage between the individual parameters to establish an integrated pattern of looking at the affairs.

This Institute has been declared as a National Institute for Demarcation of High Tide Line (HTL) & Low Tide Line (LTL) in Coastal Regulation Zone by Ministry of Environment & Forest, Government of India.

1. Lab Scale Spirulina Production Technology : Laboratory scale production of the non-toxic, edible blue-green algae of Spirulina species, has been developed. The spirulina species is remarkably rich in nutrients like proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins and minerals and a well established human food supplement, during 1993-96. Seed culture methods for a quick growing spirulina species, under both artificial and sunlight conditions as standardized. The Institute is interested to transfer the technology for commercial production.
2. Conservation, Development and Maintenance of some Wetlands of West Bengal as Waterfowl Habitats : As is well known wetlands are abodes of most diverse organisms, planktons, bacteria, plants, nonvertibrates, vertibrates and so on. One category of wetland fauna that has assumed world-wide interest and concern of environmentalists is the waterfowl, the species of birds that largely depend upon the waterbodies for their livelihood. Keeping this in mind, specific wetlands in West Bengal under different agro-climatic regions, viz. Sub-Himalayan, Gangetic and Coastal were chosen for detailed study on the basis of biological diversity. These are Rasik Bil, Mailandighi, Altadighi and Gourdighi in the Sub-Himalayan region, Katiganga, Motijheel, Bariti Bil, Chupichar and Kajla Dighi in Gangetic region and Alampur, Dadanpatrabar and Gobaria Bil in Coastal region. Specific recommendations have been made for conservation, development and management of these wetlands.
3. Study on the Sewage of Calcutta : The basic aim of this project as to assess the abiotic parameters and biotic parameters like bacterial counts of fecal coliforms and salmonella spps., identification of algae and fungal species of the two major sewage channels of South-East Calcutta viz. Dry Weather Flow (DWF) and Storm Water Flow (SWF) together with tannery waste channel during 1995 to 1997. The findings were very significant and gave an idea about the sewage characteristics of Calcutta.
4. Studies on the Distribution of Toxic metals in Water, Soil, Vegetables, other Crops and Fish of Dhapa Area : The objective of the project is to assess the distribution of toxic metals like Pb. Cd. Cr. and Hg in the vegetables, field soil and water used in the Dhapa area.
5. Monitoring of Environmental Status of Subhas Sarobar, Calcutta and preparation of Management Action Plan : The objectives of this project are to prepare a data bank on the environmental quality of the Subhash Sarobar complex, to assess the anthropogenic activities going on in this lake eco-systems; and to formulate a management plan for conservation of the lake.
6. A Study of the Environmental Status of Calcutta Canal System : The objective of this study is to evaluate the environmental status of some important canals viz. Bagjola, Kestopur, Tollunullah, Beliaghata. The water samples were collected in different seasons to get the seasonal variation.
7. Monitoring of Environmental Status to Rabindra Sarobar, Calcutta and Preparation of Management Action Plan : The objective of this project is to prepare a data bank on the environmental status of the Rabindra Sarobar, which is declared as a Lake of National Importance.

1. Crop Acreage & Production Estimation : The study has been undertaken to estimate acreage and production of Kharif Rice, Mustard and Potato in West Bengal using Remote Sensing and Meteorological data before harvesting. The Project is a part of the FASAL Programme of Govt. Of India.
2. Cropping System Study : Under this Programme a number of studies are taken up. These are Crop Rotation Study for the Introduction of New Crop, Soil Moisture Estimation Study using RADAR SAT Data for sustainable cropping pattern, Soil Moisture Modelling in DVC Command Area on pilot basis for Water Efficient Cropping.

1. Wetland Mapping of West Bengal and Tripura : The project was aimed at preparing maps on 1:50,000 scale using LISS II data of 1992-93 through visual interpretation and estimating district-wise wetland area of West Bengal.
2. Status of Surface Water Resources in West Bengal : Studied in Howrah, Burdwan and Nadia District. The objective of this project was to prepare an inventory of surface water and to examine its quality for sustainable use of surface water.
3. Mapping and Monitoring of wetlands using ERS-1 SAR Data : The objective was to prepare map of wetlands for baseline information.
4. Panchayat Level Resource Survey and Mapping with Peoples' Participation : A pilot project in Ausgram G.P. under Ausgram Block1, District Burdwan, West Bengal. The objective of this work is to evolve a prioritised plan for the Ausgram Gram Panchayat with peoples' participation in Burdwan District.
5. Wasteland Mapping of Koch Behar District : The objective of the project is the production of a reliable data base as a part of a nation-wide program to bring all the wastelands of the country under a massive program of afforestation, tree planting and other economic uses.

1. Study on Water-Bodies and Land-Use Using Satellite Data in Burdwan District : The basic task was to prepare map of water bodies and to classify them, the statistics being presented mouza wise.
2. Wetlands - Towards a Viable Policy for Resoruce Management in West Bengal : The objective of this study was to identify and classify the water bodies under different topographical conditions in three districts namely Burdwan, Birbhum and Nadia. The study contains inventories of natural resources, production pattern, ownership type for the preparation of management plan at micro-level.
3. Water Resource Management Study in Terai Area : The study has been undertaken to estimate the water resource and its uses and to examine the quality of groundwater in 9 blocks of Koch Behar, Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling Districts for preparation of sustainable water resource management plan.

1. Land Use Mapping of Coastal Regulation Zone of West Bengal : The basic task was to prepare the maps of this region on 1:25,000 scale taking Survey of India (SOI) topographical maps as base maps by visual interpretation of SPOT images of 1989.
2. Coastal Studies Project : The objective of the work was to prepare Coastal Wetland/Landform maps on 1:50,000 scale using IRS LISS II data and to prepare shoreline changes maps on 1:50,000 over the years starting from 1980 to 1993 using IRS LISS II and Landsat MSS/TM data through visual interpretation.
3. Upgradation of Coastal Zone Maps of West Bengal : Landuse maps within the CRZ of West Bengal prepared on 1:25,000 scale based on SPOT/IRS LISS II data of the year 1989. However, later on, it was found that out of this total coastal stretches, some of the areas are relatively more dynamic and during last ten years have undergone major changes due to natural as well as anthropogenic reasons. This project envisages to carry out mapping of those selected region in more detail and prepare updated maps on 1:25,000 scale using mainly IRS-1C LISS III data and also PAN data.
4. Application of Remote Sensing for Coastal Habitat Studies in parts of West Bengal : The project envisages mapping, monitoring and species wise zoning of mangrove habitats in Sunderbans and at the mouth river Subarnarekaha on 1:12,500 scale. IRS-IC LISS III and PAN merged data are being utilized. Both visual and digital techniques are being employed. Ground truth studies are being carried out a regular basis to establish species-wise zonations and mapping of selected portion of the two mangrove forests. A detail database will be created in GIS environment for mangrove habitat.

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