Matla River

{{Short description|River in India}}

{{other uses|Matla (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox river

| name = Matla River

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| image = Matla River 3.jpg

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| image_caption = Matla River (Canning)

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| subdivision_type1 = Country

| subdivision_name1 = India

| subdivision_type2 = State

| subdivision_name2 = West Bengal

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| subdivision_type4 = District

| subdivision_name4 = South 24 Parganas

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| discharge1_location= Bidyadhari River

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Matla River forms a wide estuary in and around the Sundarbans in South 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal.

The main stream of the Matla River is divided into two arms near Purandar. One passes through Kultali-Garanbose and then passes through the Sundarbans. The other passes through Basanti, Pathankhali, Surjyaberia, Masjidbati and then meets Bidyadhari River.{{cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=gzIHFbX25t0C&q=Matla+river&pg=PA18| title = Plant wealth of the lower Ganga Delta: an eco-taxonomical approach, Volume 1 By Kumudranjan Naskar |access-date = 2009-10-27 | isbn = 9788170351177 | last1 = Naskar | first1 = Kumudranjan | year = 1993 }}

Lateral connections of the Matla system on the west are Belladonna River, Kultala River, the Piyali-Nabipukur River, the Bainchapi Khal, the Kaikalmari River, the Suia River, the Dulibhasani Gang, and the Gokhaltali Gang, On the eastern side the main connections with the Gosaba and Raimangal systems are more intricate and many of the channels are yet to be named. The important channels in this belt are Rupkhali Khal, Pathankhali Nadi, Pirkhali Nadi, Gazikhali Khal, Panchmukhani Khal, Mayanadi Khal, Mayadip River, Bhangaduni River, Kalindi River, Kalgachia River, Raimangal River, Jhilla River, Gonna River, and the Harinbhanga River.{{cite book | url =https://books.google.com/books?id=jbKGojVTWGcC&q=Matla+river&pg=PA67 | title = The Sundarbans of India: a development analysis By Asim Kumar Mandal|access-date = 2009-10-27 | isbn = 9788173871436| last1 = Mandal| first1 = Asim Kumar| year = 2003}}

An abortive attempt was made to establish Port Canning on the Matla in 1860s.{{cite book |last=Chakrabarti |first=Bhaskar |year=2012 |chapter=Calcutta Port |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Calcutta_Port |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}}

File:Bridge_on_matla.jpg

About 300,000 pilgrims take a dip at the confluence of the Adi Ganga and Matla rivers at South Bishnupur village on Makar Sankranti day.{{cite web | url =http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=23&id=132026&usrsess=1 | title = Alternative to Ganga Sagar |access-date = 2009-10-27 | publisher =The Statesman, 24 January 2004 }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}

During the monsoons the Matla becomes so turbulent that it becomes impossible for boats to ferry people. At the same time, the Matla has become so silted that during the dry season boats cannot come near the jetties and have to be stationed {{convert|500|yd|m|order=flip}} from the jetty.{{cite web| url = http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&show=archive&id=134764&catid=73&year=2005&month=12&day=24&Itemid=66| title = Bridge on the river Matla| access-date = 2012-04-25| publisher = The Statesman, 24 December 2005| archive-url = https://archive.today/20120913045801/http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&show=archive&id=134764&catid=73&year=2005&month=12&day=24&Itemid=66| archive-date = 2012-09-13| url-status = dead}} Long stretches of the Matla have embankments to protect villages in the surrounding areas from flooding.{{cite web| url =http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&show=archive&id=86762&catid=72&year=2004&month=8&day=24&Itemid=66| title =Matla waters may sweep villages| access-date =2012-04-25| publisher =The Statesman, 24 August 2004| archive-url =https://archive.today/20130222082116/http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&show=archive&id=86762&catid=72&year=2004&month=8&day=24&Itemid=66| archive-date =2013-02-22| url-status =dead}}

A {{convert|644|m|ft|adj=on}} road bridge across the Matla, was inaugurated by Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, former Chief Minister of West Bengal, in January 2011. It links Canning with Basanti.{{cite web | url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110109/jsp/nation/story_13412351.jsp | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130203113407/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110109/jsp/nation/story_13412351.jsp | url-status = dead | archive-date = February 3, 2013 | title = Didi on Singur mind, not CM | access-date = 2011-09-30 | work = See photo caption | publisher = The Telegraph, 9 January 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=355046&catid=42&show=archive&year=2011&month=1&day=9&Itemid=66 |title=Canning bridge inaugurated, CM rolls sops for locals |access-date=2011-09-30 |publisher=The Statesman, 9 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614102912/http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=355046&catid=42&show=archive&year=2011&month=1&day=9&Itemid=66 |archive-date=14 June 2012 }} The bridge is located at {{coord|22.3056|N|88.6795|E|format=dms|}}.