Social,
Environmental & Economic Sustainability
Our analysis of the rank of the district
Backwardness : 65
Sex Ratio Rank : 440 (Rank one is least sex ratio - Cenus 2001)
HIV Category District : D (HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2004 - 2006)
Disability : 205 (Census 2001)
Literacy Ratio : 306 (Census 2001)
Minority : Does not figure in MCD
Water : Flouride in Groundwater above permissible limits
Brief About Bargarh District
The Bargarh district lies between 20° 43’ to 21° 41’ North latitude
and 82° 39’ to 83° 58’ East longitude. It is one of the western
most districts of the State of Orissa and came in to existence
as a district from 1st April 1993. It is bounded on the north
by the State of Chhatisgarh and on the east by the district of
Sambalpur, on the south lies the district of Balangir and Subarnapur
and on the west the district of Nawapara. The district has an
area of 5837 Sq.Kms. The population of the district as per 2001
census is 134.6 Millions out of which 68.1 millions are male and
66.5 millions are female.
Topography Natural Division
The Bargarh district can be divided into 3 natural divisions,
(1) Bargarh Plain (2) Borasambar (3) Ambabhona & Lakhanpur.
The greater portion is an open plain of considerable fertility
drained by the Danta and the Jira, the two tributaries of Mahanadi.
To the north of this plain runs the Barapahar range of hills and
to the south-west lie the valley of river Ong (Ang). The Bargarh
plain is not a flat alluvial tract but an expanse of undulating
country sloping down from the Barapahar hills in the north, to
the Mahanadi valley in the east. It contains a good portion of
the cultivated land of the district and its undulating character
affords excellent scope for irrigation reservoirs. The soil is
a mixture of sand and gravel as well as of clay. Its a good rice
soil and unlike the more fertile black cotton soil it grows few
seeds and does not harbour dangerous insect pests. This tract
is nowhere bare of vegetation and the villages are found embowered
with mango groves.
The Borasambar (Padampur) tract lies to the south-west of the
Bargarh plain. It is bounded by the high hills on the north and
south and the intervening plain is drained by river Ong (Ang),
the valley of which particularly in the eastern portion is best
suited to agriculture. Its soil contains some river slit and enriched
by hill drainage.
The Ambabhona and Lakhanpur area is cut off from the rest of
Bargarh plain by a long spur of the Barapahar hills running south-west
for a distance of nearly 48 Km. This hill forms a barrier to communication
with the rest of the district. Ambabhona is a fairly level tract
sloping down from the hills to the river Mahanadi and is under
close cultivation. Lakhanpur is a wide valley sorrounded by forest
clad hills and is also closely cultivated.
Hill System
The Barapahar (literaly, 12 hills) are the main hill range in
the Bargarh district covering an area over 777 Sq.Km. and attaining
a height of 2,267 feet (691.1 m.) at the peak of Debrigarh. Debrigarh
is one of the few hills of the range offering level ground and
good water supply near the summit. It is one of the best hill
sites in the district suitable for health resort. The river Mahanadi
formed a lake in geological times to the north of the this range
till in burst and the lake emptied. The Hirakud Dam (in Sambalpur
district) has reconstructed the barrier and repeated the ancient
lake.
The second group of hills is the Gandhamardhan range running
along the southern boundary of the ex-Zamindari of Borasambar,
separating it from Bolangir district. The hill range rises to
2,000-3,000 feet (629.60 m to 914.40m) in height and reaches its
highest point (3,234 feet or 985.72m) in the peak of Nrushinghanath,
one of the picturesque places in the district. Another range braches
off to the west of Nrushinghanath running first north-south and
then north-east near Jagdalpur, where it is broken by the Ong
(Ang) river. Another range runs eastward to Tal and then to the
north-east forming the boundary between the district and Raipur
of Chhatisgarh
River System
The major rivers in the district are tributaries of Mahanadi river.
Jira and Jhaun rivers flow through the Bargarh district and join
the river Mahanadi in the extreme south of the district. The Jira
has main tributary, the Danta which joins it a few miles north
of its confluence with the Mahanadi near the village Gandturum
in Bheden.
The other river that flows through the district is Ong (Ang)
which rises in the Nawapara district and enters Borasambar (Padampur)
at its extreme south-west corner. It flows through in a wide-semi-circle
from west to east and leaves the district a few miles to the east
of Gaisilat eventually joining the Mahanadi in the Subarnapur
district.
Spring, Waterfall and Tanks.
There are natural springs at Nrushinghanath at the foot of Gandhamardhan
hills of Padampur subdivision forming streams flowing in cascades
down the steep hill side. The waterfalls are called Kapil dhar,
Bhim dhar and Chal dhar, which are considered to be very sacred.
In the Barapahar hills there are a few springs notable among them
is the one near the village Ghens.
There are many tanks in the district, some of which serve the
purpose of irrigation. Notable among them are the Victoria Sagar
near Ghens, Yogimunda in Barpali and Ranisagar in Bijepur.
Climate
The climate of this district is characterised by a very hot dry
summer and well distributed rains in the south-west monsoon season.
The cold season commences from November and lasts till the end
of February. The hot season follows thereafter and continues till
about the second week of June. the south-west monsoon season is
from mid June to the end of September.
History
The headquarter of the district Bargarh is situated on the left
bank of Jira River. The town Bargarh is on the National Highway-6.
The original name of the place was "Baghar Kota" as
known from an inscription of the 11th Century A.D. It was called
"Bargarh" probably from the time of Balaram Dev, the
Chauhan Raja of Sambalpur, who made it for some time his headquarters
and constructed a big fort for its protection. Narayan Singh,
the last Chauhan Raja granted this place in "Maufi"
(free hold) to 2 Brahmin brothers Krushna Dash and Narayan Dash,
sons of Baluki Dash who was killed in action by the Gond rebels
led by Baldia Ray and Mahapatra Ray. The another part of the district
popularly known as "Borasambar" was formerly the headquarters
of the Borasambar Zamindari extending over 2178 Sq.Kms. Later,
the headquarters of the Zamindari shifted to Padampur, one of
the present sub-divisional headquarter. The Zamindar belongs to
the Binjhal family and is called Pat-Bariha
People
Language
Oriya is the main language spoken in the district.
The Oriya spoken in the district differs from the spoken in the
costal districts of Orissa. It is generally known as Sambalpuri
Oriya and is spoken in western parts of Orissa. Hindi is one of
the other languages prevalently spoken in the district, mostly
in the urban areas.
Communication
The South Eastern Railways runs through this district
covering 46 K.Ms. N.H.6 linking Mumbai to Kolkotta passes through
Bargarh dist. covering 96.3 K.Ms. There are 5303 K.M. of G.P.Roads,
, 117 no. of R.D. roads covering 1105.26 K.Ms, 112.792 K.M. major
dist. roads, 138.8 K.M. State Highway and 135.05 K.M. other dist.
roads in this district.
Economy
Bargarh District has two distinctly different kinds
of scenario in the field of economic development. The area under
the Command Area of Hirakud Dam Project has a fairly developed
agricultural sector, which contributes for the development of
other sectors also. The rainfed area like Padampur Sub-Division
and Bhatli & Ambabhona Blocks of Bargarh Sub-Division are
backward with traditional agriculture and lack of development
of other sectors as well.
Socio-Economic Development
During the recent years, there is an increased demand
for taking up allied industries and service activities. Poultry,
Diary schemes are becoming increasingly popular. The unemployed
youths are evincing more interest in self-employment opportunities.
The programmes of the government aim at direct attack on poverty
as well as providing employment opportunities through creation
of rural infrastructure.
Predominant Economic Activities
Agriculture is the most important economic activity
in the district. Allied activities like Diary, Poultry, Goatery
and Piggry are also popular. In the milk-route areas, diary farming
is taken up in a systematic manner. Poultry farming is coming
up in a big way. There are, handloom weavers concentration in
the district. Besides, there are Potters, Blacksmiths, Construction
Workers etc.
Major Food, Commercial and Plantation
and Horticulture Crops
The major crops are Rice, Pulses like Arhar, Mung and
Biri, Oil-seeds like Groundnuts, Til and Mustard. The only commercial
crop taken up is Sugarcane. The major horticulture crop are Vegetables,
Mango, Banana, Citrus, Papaya, Guava, Litchi, Ber etc.
