MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES OF HOOGHLY ESTUARY FOR PORT PLANNING

A proposal to construct a deep water port at the Sagar Island in the Hooghly estuary, India is in the pipeline. Detailed surveys and investigations have been carried out as a part of the preparation of feasibility report for port planning. In this paper, morphological changes of the Hooghly estuary such as aggradations and degradation of the shoals, sand bars, and islands in the estuary which will have a bearing on the possible selection of the port location have been thoroughly studied. The morphological changes that have taken place over the years have been related to various estuarine forces. The studies have been aimed to the selection of the new port location.