Quaternary of the Bengal Coast

The second chapter is about the Quaternary of the east coast in India in general and the Bengal coast in particular. This discussion on the Quaternary is crucial in the context of the evolution of settlements not only along the coastal line but also its immediate hinterland areas. It is well known that the Orissa–Bengal coastline is formed over a deep tectonic trough underlain at a great depth by the older rocks of the continental crust. Here, an attempt has been made to explain the processes responsible for shaping this narrow part of the coastline and how they are different from those along the other part/parts of the east coast. A major section of this chapter is devoted to how the Quaternary processes related to the Bhagirathi–Hooghly/Gangetic delta formation have influenced the development of the present-day serrated coastline of the Bengal Basin.