Geography of Bankura district
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Country | India | |
State |
West Bengal | |
Area | 6,788 km2 (2,621 sq mi) | |
Land borders | N & NE: Bardhaman district SE: Hooghly district S: Paschim Medinipur district W: Purulia district | |
Highest point | Biharinath 448 m (1,470 ft) | |
Longest river (on border) | Damodar River | |
Longest river (inside) | Dwarakeswar River | |
Climate: | Dry and hot summers with moderate monsoons , winters are cool
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Terrain: | W&S: Lower edge of alluvial plains
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Natural resources | ||
Natural hazards | Nor'westers are frequent in early summer
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Environmental issues |
Geography of Bankura district refers to the geography of the present
Bankura is one of the districts of Burdwan division. It is situated between 22° 38’ and 23° 38’ north latitude and between 86° 36’ and 87° 46’ east longitude. It has an area of 6,788 square kilometres (2,621 sq mi)[1] On the north and north-east the district is bounded by Bardhaman district, from which it is separated by the Damodar River. On the south-east it is bounded by Hooghly district, on the south by Paschim Medinipur district and on the west by Purulia district.[2]
Configuration
Bankura district has been described as the “connecting link between the
The area consists of two different tracts. The western portion marks the gradual descent from the table land of Chota Nagpur to the delta of lower Bengal, consisting largely of
The western part of the district has poor,
Hills
The hills of the district consist of outliers of the Chota Nagpur plateau and only two are of any great height – Biharinath and Susunia. While the former rises to a height of 448 metres (1,470 ft), the latter attains a height of 440 metres (1,440 ft). There are a number of low hills in the Saltora area. There are small hills, e.g. the Mejia hill rising to a mere 60 metres (200 ft) from the base or the Karo hill, halfway between Mejia and Bankura, rising a little higher to about 120 metres (390 ft). To the south, in the police station areas of Khatra and Raipur there are picturesque low hills, locally called Masaker Pahar.[1]
Rivers
The rivers of the area flow from the north-east to the south-west in courses roughly parallel to one another. They are mostly hill streams, originating in the hills in the west. The rivers come down in floods after heavy rains and subside as rapidly as they rise. In summer, their sand beds are almost always dry.[1]
Amongst the other rivers flowing through the district, the most important is
Mejia Beel is a large swamp formed by the overflow of the Damodar. There are several small tanks or artificial lakes developed by the former rajas, in and around Bishnupur.[1]
River projects
There is a proposal for the construction of a dam across the Dwarakeswar. The preliminary project report on Dwarakeswar Gandheswari Reservoir was received in Central Water Commission in January, 2004 for which ‘in- principle’ consent of Central Water Commission for preparation of detailed Project Report has been conveyed to the State Government in March, 2004.[4]
Geology
The greater portion of the district consists of a rolling country covered by laterite and alluvium. While metamorphic or gneissose rocks are found to the extreme west, to the east there is a wide plain of recent alluvium. Strong massive runs of hornblendic varieties stretch across the region in tolerably continuous lines, the general strike being nearly east and west.[1]
The most characteristic geological feature of the district is the area of laterite and associated rocks of sand and gravel. At some places one finds hard beds of laterite. At other places it is decomposed and reorganised. Locally, the ferruginous rock is called kankar. The calcareous concretions, commonly used as the sources of lime, are known as ghutin.[1]
The Gondwana system is represented in the northern portion of the district, south of the Damodar, between Mejia and Biharinath Hill. The beds covered with alluvium contains seams of coal belonging to the Raniganj system.[1]
Climate
The climate, especially in the upland tracts to the west, is much drier than in eastern or southern Bengal. From the beginning of March to early June, when the
The monsoon months, June to September, are comparatively pleasant, as the weather is not as sultry as in other parts of Bengal. The total average rainfall is 1,400 millimetres (55 in), the bulk of the rain coming in the months of June to September.[1]
Winters are pleasant with temperatures dropping down to below 27 °C (81 °F) in December.[1]
Subdivisions
The district comprises three subdivisions:
Bankura is the district headquarters. There are 21 police stations, 22 development blocks, 3 municipalities, 190 gram panchayats and 5187 villages in this district.[5][6]
Other than municipality area, each subdivision contains community development blocs which in turn are divided into rural areas and census towns. In total there are 5 urban units: 3 municipalities and 2 census towns.[6][7]
Bankura Sadar subdivision
- One municipality: Bankura
- Bankura — I community development bloc consists of rural areas only with 6 gram panchayats.
- Bankura — II community development bloc consists of rural areas only with 7 gram panchayats.
- Barjora community development bloc consists of rural areas with 11 gram panchayats and two census towns: Barjora and Beliatore.
- Chhatna community development bloc consists of rural areas only with 13 gram panchayats.
- Gangajalghati community development bloc consists of rural areas only with 10 gram panchayats.
- Mejia community development bloc consists of rural areas only with 5 gram panchayats.
- Onda community development bloc consists of rural areas only with 15 gram panchayats.
- Shaltoracommunity development bloc consists of rural areas only with 8 gram panchayats.
Khatra subdivision
- Indpur community development bloc consists of rural areas only with 7 gram panchayats.
- Khatra community development bloc consists of rural areas only with 7 gram panchayats.
- Hirbandh community development bloc consists of rural areas only with 5 gram panchayats.
- Raipur community development bloc consists of rural areas only with 10 gram panchayats.
- Sarenga community development bloc consists of rural areas only with 6 gram panchayats.
- Ranibandh community development bloc consists of rural areas only with 8 gram panchayats.
- Simlapal community development bloc consists of rural areas only with 7 gram panchayats.
- Taldangra community development bloc consists of rural areas only with 9 gram panchayats.
Bishnupur subdivision
- Two municipalities: Bishnupur and Sonamukhi.
- Indas community development bloc consists of rural areas only with 10 gram panchayats.
- Joypur community development bloc consists of rural areas only with 9 gram panchayats.
- Patrasayarcommunity development bloc consists of rural areas only with 10 gram panchayats.
- Kotulpur community development bloc consists of rural areas only with 8 gram panchayats.
- Sonamukhi community development bloc consists of rural areas only with 10 gram panchayats.
- Bishnupur community development bloc consists of rural areas only with 9 gram panchayats.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p O’Malley, L.S.S., ICS, Bankura, Bengal District Gazetteers, pp. 1-20, first published 1908, 1995 reprint, Government of West Bengal
- ^ "Bankura, West Bengal". Location and extent. District administration. Retrieved 2008-12-20.
- ^ "Sankhipta Bharatkosh". abasar.net. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
- ^ Yadav, Jai Prakash Narayan. "Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1670 to be answered on 2004-7-19". Irrigation Schemes. Ministry of Water Resources. Archived from the original on 2006-02-10. Retrieved 2007-02-19.
- ^ a b "Directory of District, Sub division, Panchayat Samiti/ Block and Gram Panchayats in West Bengal, March 2008". West Bengal. National Informatics Centre, India. 2008-03-19. Archived from the original on February 25, 2009. Retrieved 2008-12-06.
- ^ a b "Administrative Features". Official website of Bankura district. Archived from the original on 2008-07-25. Retrieved 2008-12-06.
- ^ "Population, Decadal Growth Rate, Density and General Sex Ratio by Residence and Sex, West Bengal/ District/ Sub District, 1991 and 2001". Bankura. Directorate of census operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 2008-12-06.