Calcutta Metropolis — Pollution and Plants

Calcutta, was founded on the 24th August, 1690. Three small villages namely Kalikata, Sutanutee and Govindpur on the eastern bank of the river Hooghly constituted the city. It is situated at 88°20’ E longitude and 22°82’ N latitude, 5.3 m above sea level and presently comprises an area of about 187.33 sq km, extending mainly towards north-south directions. Initially these were low lying swampy and marshy areas, frequently inundated in saline tidal water inhabiting sea turtles, poisonous and non-poisonous reptiles, sometimes even crocodiles or alligators, jackals and wild fowls in abundance. A number of halophytic and partially mangrove plants were growing in wilderness forming patches of dense scrub or jungle.