Hello! I am Kumkum Bhattacharyya, working as a 'Research Associate' sponsored by the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Over 15 years ago my supervisor Manjusridi and I discovered a set of land resources or sandbars locally known as ‘Char lands’ or ‘Mana’ on the harnessed Lower Damodar River and were fascinated by the complex, sophisticated interrelationships between the riverbed settlers and the natural environment in the presence of floods and dams. Our involvement with human-environmental research within the fluvial system began at that time and continues today. I have been awarded Ph.D in May 23, 2000. As field researchers, we lived in the Damodar River-bed sandbars or islands in order to observe and interview people living on the flood prone sandbars as well as to collect information on floods, water resources, human perception, adaptation, flood plain zoning, and other topics. Islanders developed adaptation strategies to live in such a marginal environment. Spurred by restricted social and economic mobility and sometimes political constraints, islanders have learned to adapt to their vulnerable environment. They have a definite plan of action which they implement at the time of need and the Damodar river beds are gradually being legally encroached.Looking on to the positive side of the floods sandbar dwellers have learnt to underestimate the danger of living in a flood-prone micro environment, therefore, the disaster reduction measures adopted by the riverbed hydraulic society often pose challenges to the technology and capital intensive measures taken by the Governments.The harnessing of the Damodar is governed by the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), a body modeled on the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) of the United States. My research presents a comprehensive evaluation of the Damodar River that has been controlled using embankments, weirs, barrages and dams using an approach that interweaves human aspects of river control with analysis of hydrological and physical data including historical data over the last few centuries. This information helped in preparation of Master Plan for integrated development and utilization of Damodar Valley water resources and will also help in designing, managing and implementing a Master Plan for socio-economic development of the inhabitants in the riverine regime.
In commenting on this study, a well-known Professor from the Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University wrote- "Bhattacharyya's superb study describes and analyzes the interrelationship of geomorphic setting, resource base, perceived environment and social space as well as the role of legal structures, economic geography and infrastructure in accounting for the way society has adapted to, altered and utilized a once natural dynamic environment. Through historical reconstruction of the riverine scene along with marshalling of data on river behavior and social change, including the presentation of detailed studies of settlements within the alluvial bottomland brought to life with excellent maps, the author makes clear how people, ranging from refugees to local settlers have transformed the landscape driven by diverse cultural, economic, religious, and political forces. The author's description of the sophisticated way in which environment, social status, and culture are interwoven in the distribution of crops and associated microtopography is masterful".
Over the last few years, I have prepared several papers and updated my Ph.D research (publication in process). At present, we, a group of geographers, islanders, ecologists, water resources expert, programmers, RR&R officers and surveyors are trying to extend this research on human-environment interaction within the fluvial environment informed by Geographic Information System (GIS). We are interested in the socio-economic development of the River Valley Region and sustainable regional development through involvement of the hydraulic society of Damodar char lands through environmental monitoring which will be an integral part of river basin management.
My other research interests include reservoir sedimentation, a topic on which I have worked since 2002 beginning with my post-doctoral appointment at Berkeley, California. I have continued working on reservoir sedimentation using GIS facilities from the University of Washington, Seattle. The research is still in progress due to non-availability of all data sets.
In addition to research, I have teaching experience at college within Washington State. I also worked at Washington State Department of Ecology with a group of ecologists and GIS professionals to analyze environmental and cleanup site information in prioritizing cleanup work as well as at Oregon State University on a project entitled ‘Oregon Explorer Wetland Portal’ and helped develop a statewide coverage for wetlands for Oregon State.
Other than Geography/GIS, I am also very much interested in things such as music, painting, meditation and visiting places of geographical, historical and archeological importance with my family. I like observing monsoon rainfall, watching birds and playing with kids.
Association of American Geographers
AGU:American Geophysical Union
Central Water Commission
Damodar Valley Corporation
Department of Ecology
Environmental System Research Institute (ESRI)
Environmental System Research Institute (ESRI)
International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD)
International Water Resources Association (IWRA)
International Water History Association
International Rivers Network
National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organization (NATMO)
The Johns Hopkins University
The University of Burdwan
The University of California, Berkeley
The World Commission on Dams
Third World Center for Water Management
US. Geological Survey