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Due to unavailability of sufficient discharge data for many rivers, hydrologists have used indirect methods for deriving flood discharge amount, that is, application of channel geometry and hydrological models, for the estimation of peak discharge in the selected ungauged river basin(s) in their research/project works. This paper has studied the estimation of peak flood discharge of the Kunur River Basin, a major tributary of the Ajay River in the lower Gangetic plain. To achieve this objective, field measurements, GIS technique, and several channel geometry equations are adopted. Three important geomorphic based hydrological modelsmanning's equation, kinematic wave parameter (KWP), and SCS curve number (CN) method-have been used for computing peak discharge during the flood season, based on daily rainfall data of September, 2000. Peak discharges, calculated by different given models, are 239.44 m 3 /s, 204.08 m 3 /s, and 146.52 m 3 /s, respectively. The hydrograph has demonstrated the sudden increase with heavy rainfall from the 18th to the 22nd of September, 2000. As a result, a havoc flood condition was generated in the confluence zone of Ajay and Kunur Rivers. This hydrograph might be not only successful application for flood forecasting but also for management of the lower Ajay River Basin as well as the downstream area of Kunur Basin.

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The embankments act as a life line for deltaic people of the Sundarbans. The reclamation of immature land through the construction of embankment without proper planning has been increasing the vulnerability of embankment breaching due to various natural and anthropogenic causes. The construction and maintenance of embankments are difficult tasks without prior knowledge about the mode of vulnerability and ground situations of the sites. To understand the scenario of embankment breaching and its recent management strategy, an intensive field survey was conducted to comprehend the underlying reasons for embankment breaching and its management techniques at the ground level. The modern techniques were also incorporated to identify the vulnerable sites of river bank erosion. The study reveals that the southern part of the delta is more vulnerable due to intensive river bank erosion. To understand potential capabilities of these embankments to combat against fluvio-hydrological challenges, a sequential change of embankment construction from historical past to present and recent scientific engineering model of Aila Dam has been chalked out in this study. The present study is an attempt to understand the geo-historical perspectives of embankment construction and to identify the vulnerable coastal zone of Gosaba Island of Sundarban. The study also aims to illustrate the modern techniques of embankment management for its longevity in such a dynamic land.

The maternal health issue was a part of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs, Target-5). Now it has been incorporated into Target-3 of 17 points Sustainable Development Goal-2030, declared by the United Nations, 2015. In India, about 50% of newborn deaths can be reduced by taking good care of the mother during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum period. This requires timely, well-equipped healthcare by trained providers, along with emergency transportation for referral obstetric emergency. Governments need to ensure physicians in the rural underserved areas. The utilisation of maternal healthcare services (MHCSs) depends on both the availability and accessibility of services along with accountability.This study is based on an empirical retrospective survey, also called a historic study, to evaluate the influences of distance on the provision of maternal health services and on its accountability in Murarai-II block, Birbhum District. The major objective of the study is to identify the influence of distance on the provision and accountability of the overall MHCSs. The investigation has found that there is a strong inverse relationship (-0.75) between accessibility index and accountability score with p-value = <0.05, where the direct connectivity index seem to have no direct influence on the accountability score (as the ‘r’ is 0.56 and p-value= >0.05). Tracking of pregnant women, identification of high risk pregnancy and timely Postnatal Care (PNC) have become the dominant factors of the maternal healthcare services in the first Principal Component Analysis (PCA), explaining 49.67% of the accountability system. Overall, institutional barriers to accessibility are identified as important constraints behind lesser accountability of the services, preventing the anticipated benefit. This study highlights the critical areas where maternal healthcare services are lacking. The analysis has highlighted the importance of physical access to health services in shaping the provision of maternal healthcare services.Drawing on empirical observations of operation of public distribution system in different states of India, the paper constructs a preliminary game theoretic model. It argues that an effective public distribution must be as universal as possible, delivery mechanism of fair price shops should be reformed, they should be make them commercially viable and that special attention should be paid to PDS at times of high food inflation.