# Ichamati River > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ichamati_River > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ichamati_River.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichamati_River > Source revision: 1300894081 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|River flowing through India and Bangladesh}} {{Infobox river | name = Ichamati River | native_name = | native_name_lang = | name_other = | name_etymology = | image = Taki ViewFromGuestHouse.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = View from [Taki](/source/Taki_(India)) Guest House. Bangladesh is visible on the far bank of Ichamati River. | map = Nadia Rivers.jpg | map_size = | map_caption = The lower Ichamati channel flows criss-cross through India and Bangladesh | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption = | subdivision_type1 = Countries | subdivision_name1 = [Bangladesh](/source/Bangladesh) and [India](/source/India) | subdivision_type2 = Cites | subdivision_name2 = [Basirhat](/source/Basirhat), [Bongaon](/source/Bongaon) | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = | subdivision_name5 = | length = {{convert|208|km}}{{cite web |date=2023 |title=Annual Flood Report 2023|url=https://www.wbiwd.gov.in/uploads/anual_flood_report/Annual-Flood-Report-2023.pdf |publisher=www.wbiwd.gov.in |p=14 }} | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location = | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = | discharge1_max = | source1 = | source1_location = | source1_coordinates = | source1_elevation = | mouth = | mouth_location = | mouth_coordinates = | mouth_elevation = | progression = | river_system = | basin_size = {{convert|3,376|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} | tributaries_left = | tributaries_right = | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra = }} '''Ichamati River''' ({{langx|bn| ইছামতী নদী}}) (also spelt Ichhamati), is a [trans-boundary river](/source/trans-boundary_river) which flows through [India](/source/India) and [Bangladesh](/source/Bangladesh) and also forms part of the boundary between the two countries.{{cite book |last=Ahmed |first=Tahmina |year=2012 |chapter=Ichamati River |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Ichamati_River |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh](/source/Asiatic_Society_of_Bangladesh)}} The river is facing [silt](/source/silt)ation leading to thin flow of water in the dry season and floods in the rainy season. Experts are considering remedial measures and the situation is being discussed between the governments of India and Bangladesh.{{cite web |last=Basu |first=Biplab Bhusan |title=Overview of Conservation and Development of Affected Rivers in South Bengal |url=http://209.85.175.104/search?q=cache:gO6GAUkcaogJ:sfr-india.org/Docs/Achievements_L.pps+Ichhamati&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=33&gl=in |publisher=School of Fundamental Research |access-date=2007-12-10}}{{dead link|date=August 2015}} ==Ichamati flow== Ichamati River is now in three parts: (1) The longer part flows from the Mathabhanga River, a [distributary](/source/distributary) of the [Padma](/source/Padma_River), and after flowing for {{convert|208|km|mi}} joins the Kalindi River near [Hasnabad](/source/Hasnabad) in [North 24 Parganas](/source/North_24_Parganas) and [Debhata](/source/Debhata_Upazila) in [Satkhira District](/source/Satkhira_District). (2) Once the main river west of Dhaka and (3) Ichamati of Dinajpur. [Rennel's map](/source/%3AImage%3ARennel's_Map.jpg) of 1764–66, shows the last two rivers as one. The second river marked above originates south of Jafarganj opposite to the mouth of the Hoorsagar near Nathpur factory and runs towards Joginighat in [Munshiganj](/source/Munshiganj_District). ==Lower Ichamati== The Mathabhanga River originates from the right bank of the Padma, at Munshiganj in [Kushtia District](/source/Kushtia_District) in Bangladesh. It bifurcates near Majidia in [Nadia District](/source/Nadia_District) in India, creating two rivers, Ichamati and [Churni](/source/River_Churni). After traversing a length of {{convert|19.5|km|mi}} in India, the Ichamati enters Bangladesh near Mubarakpur. It flows for {{convert|35.5|km|mi}} in Bangladesh and again enters India at Habaspur Village near Duttaphulia in Nadia district. It forms the international border between India and Bangladesh for {{convert|21|km|mi}} from Angrail to Kalanchi, and again from Goalpara to the Kalindi-[Raimangal](/source/Raimangal_River) outfall into the [Bay of Bengal](/source/Bay_of_Bengal). The Bhairab once flowed from the Ganges, across the present beds of the [Jalangi](/source/Jalangi_River), and further eastwards towards [Faridpur](/source/Faridpur_District). The Bhairab is no more a very active river. The Mathabhanga is a younger stream than Jalangi and it was not until very recently that the river completed its junction with the [Hooghly](/source/Hooghly_River) by adopting the [River Churni](/source/Churni_River) (now its lower reaches) for its main course. Earlier most of the water of the Mathabhanga ran off to the east down the Kumara, Chitra, Coboduk (Bhairab), and Ichamati, but all these escape routes have been shut off, except a small amount for the Ichamati. The point to note is that while earlier the rivers in the region flowed in a south-easterly direction, but later some force pulled the Jalangi and the Mathabhanga in a south-westerly direction. The inference is that it occurred because of a local subsidence, which was active for some period prior to 1750 and which has since become inactive.Hirst, Major F.C., Director of Surveys, Bengal and Assam, ''Report on the Nadia Rivers 1915'', first published in 1916 by the Bengal Secretariat Book Depot, reproduced in ''Rivers of Bengal'', Vol III, p.27, West Bengal District Gazetteers, Higher Education Department, Government of West Bengal, 2002. ===River bed raised=== [[File:Ichamati river@.jpg|thumb|left|Ichamati river at [Basirhat city](/source/Basirhat)]] While the bed of the Ichamati river is {{convert|14|ft|m|order=flip}} higher than that of the Mathabhanga, that of the Churni is lower than Mathabhanga by {{convert|6|in|cm|0|order=flip}}. During the lean period, the level of water in the Mathabhanga is higher than that of the Padma. As a result, no water enters the Ichamati during the dry season. One of the causes of silting of the river was construction of guard wall for railway over bridge. The river beds in the area need to be excavated to facilitate the flow of water during the lean season. Since this is required to be done both in India and Bangladesh, there is need for accord on this point. The matter has been discussed at the ministerial level, the area surveyed to have better idea of the problems of the people in the affected area, and decisive action is expected in the near future.{{cite news |date=2006-09-23 |title=India, Bangladesh closer on water issues: Soz |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/india-bangladesh-closer-on-water-issues-soz/article3079841.ece |newspaper=The Hindu |agency=IANS |access-date=2007-12-10}}{{cite web |url=http://envfor.nic.in/paryaabs/v22n14/em-34-em.htm |title=Oxbow lake environment and management of Ichhamati river basin, West Bengal |work=Environmental management |publisher=Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Climate Change, India |access-date=2007-12-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217050133/http://envfor.nic.in/paryaabs/v22n14/em-34-em.htm |archive-date=2007-12-17}}{{cite news |date=2007-05-24 |title=Dhaka-Delhi secretary-level meet on water issues likely in June |url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200705/24/eng20070524_377344.html |newspaper=People's Daily online |access-date=2007-12-10 }} thumb|left|The Ichamati from Taki-Saidpur {{quote box|width=300px|quote= The ashes of so many burnt bodies have been carried by the river to the blue ocean illimitable. The man who expected so much return from his plantain trees on the southern side of that green, and at the bend of the river put bamboo traps to catch fish, is lying today on the bank of the Ichhamati – only his white bones remain, bleached by sunrays. So many young girls came to the river for water, and as they grow old their footprints are lost… during ceremonies of marriage, of making the child taste rice for the first time and of investing with the holy thread, the festivals of Durgpuja, Luxmipuja… those ladies of so many families pass away unnoticed… who knows when death may embrace us? Like a deceptive guide Death accompanies us at every bend of life and then suddenly, mysteriously he reveals his real character to a child, to an old man, perhaps… one listens to the music of eternity when one spots the old flowers or smells the pungent fragrance of herbal plants in Autumn. Some can visualise and dream the unlimitable unknown eternity in the image of the Ichhamati river during the turbulent rainy season.{{Cite book |last=Chattopadhyaya |first=Sunil Kumar |date=1994 |title=Bibhutibhusan Badopadhyaya |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kp8WZ5a34NQC&pg=PA79 |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |page=79 |isbn=978-8172015787 |access-date=2007-12-10 }} |source= '''[Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay](/source/Bibhutibhushan_Bandopadhyay)'''}} thumb|Ichamati River at Bangaon town The river zone also faces the problem of industrial pollution and forcible occupation of land by people. Arresting environmental hazards resulting from lack of sanitation facilities, encroachment, groundwater contamination like arsenic pollution, destruction of aquatic flora, fauna are some of the burning problem of the areas that needs to be tackled through participatory mechanism. ==Naming== On 1 August 2022, the [Chief Minister of West Bengal](/source/Chief_Minister_of_West_Bengal), [Mamata Banerjee](/source/Mamata_Banerjee) announced the creation of a new district [Ichamati district](/source/Ichamati_district) which is named after this river. The district will be formed by bifurcating the [North 24 Parganas district](/source/North_24_Parganas_district) consisting of the area of [Bangaon subdivision](/source/Bangaon_subdivision).{{cite news |title=Bengal to carve out seven new districts |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/bengal-to-carve-out-seven-new-districts/articleshow/93281596.cms?from=mdr |access-date=3 August 2022 |work=The Economic Times}} == References == {{reflist}} ==External links== *{{cite book |last=Rob |first=Md Abdur |year=2012 |chapter=Ganges-Padma River System |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Ganges-Padma_River_System |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh](/source/Asiatic_Society_of_Bangladesh)}} {{Commons category}} {{Rivers in and around Bengal}} {{Coord|22.627|N|88.933|E|type:river_region:BD|display=title}} Category:Rivers of West Bengal Category:Rivers of Bangladesh Category:International rivers of Asia Category:Bangladesh–India border Category:Rivers of Khulna Division Category:Border rivers --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ichamati River](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichamati_River) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichamati_River?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.