Social,
Environmental & Economic Sustainability
Our analysis of the rank of the district
Backwardness : 67
Sex Ratio Rank : 325
(Rank one is least sex ratio - Cenus 2001)
HIV Category District : D
(HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2004 - 2006)
Disability : 459 (Census 2001)
Literacy Ratio : 185 (Census 2001)
Minority : Does not figure in MCD
Challenges of the district : Our research with local communities
The increasing number of industries in the district
requires large area of land. This is causing displacement of the
tribals residing in these areas. Their livelihood is getting affected
due to the same.
Migration in the district is also on rise.
The level of pollution is the district is increasing.
Brief About Jharsuguda District
Jharsuguda District is situated in western part
of Orissa at 21° 82’ N and 84° 1’ E coordinates. Jharsuguda is
rich in mineral wealth, especially coal and it is one of the most
industrialised and urbanised districts in the state. It is well
connected with all parts of the country by rail and road and also
has an airport set up during world war II.
It has an area of 2203.32 sq.kms. During the
re-organisation of the Garhajat States in 1936 under the British,
Jharsuguda formed a part of Sambalpur district. The new district
of Jharsuguda came into existence on 1st April, 1994 and was created
by amalgamation of the erstwhile Jamindars of Rampur, Kolabira,
Padampur & Kudabaga; Jharsuguda Town is the head quarters of the
new district.
Sex Ratio : 946 (Rural 975, Urban 898)
Sex Ratio in Orissa : 972 (Rural 986, Urban 895)
Geographical Area : 2,98,886 Hect.
Forest Area : 26,917 Hect.
Geographical Location
Jharsuguda town is situated at the Western end of Orissa on the
State High way No. 10. It is situated at a distance of 515 K.M.
from Calcutta and 616 Km. from Nagpur. The river ‘IB’ flows along
the Western side of Jharsuguda town and the river ‘Vheden’ flows
in the south. The area of the town is 70.47 sq.km. The town situated
at 21o.82’ north longitude and 84o.1’ latitude at a height of
700-750 feet above mean sea level. The highest temperature recorded
in summer is 46.7o . Centigrade and it has an average rain fall
of 1527 mm.
Padmasini
Temple of Padampur
At a distance of 70 Kms. from Jharsuguda, there is Hirakud
reservoir on the left side of village Bhikampali. Just at
the point where the river Mahanadi leaves the than Madhya predesh
and enters Orissa to pour in to the Hirakud reservoir, there was
once a town called as "Padampur". The famous Sanskrit dramatist
“Bhabahbhoti” was believed to be born here. Moreover, it is said
that “Bajrajan’ Tantra marg of Buddhism took origin here.
Goddess Padmasini is the reigning deity of this town. The temple
of “Padmashini’ was constructed in 7th century A.D. by a Chalukya
king of South. However the original temple had met decay
and was believed to be reconstructed by the Chouhan king in 16th
century. In the whole Orissa Padmasini Temple is a unique
example of Chalukya art and architecture. In 1956 Padampur
town was submerged in Hirakud reservoir, but the deity has been
shifted to a new temple at nearby ‘Pujaripali’.
Ruins
of Hill Forts of Ulapgarh
On the Jharsuguda-Belpahar Road at a distance of 21
Kms. from Jharsuguda there is a village known as Lajkura.
In the vicinity there is a hill known as “Maheswar Pahad” where
the remains of an old holy fort attracts the attention of historians,
researchers and tourists.
On the foot of
Maheswar Pahad, there is small village called “Ulap”. About one
kilometer from the village, the ruins of Ulapgarh are situated.
At this place, the Maheswar pahad is about 1000 ft high and on
the top there is a huge plain surface. On this rectangular
plain stone surface the fort of Ulapgarh had been constructed.
The plain stone fine surface is about 400 metre long and 250 metre
wide. On the eastern side of the fort there are almost about
7 kms. Of densely forested Baramunda Hills and on the Western
side, the Belpahar Railway Station is located at a distance of
5 kms. On the north there is a dense forest stretching up to Hemgir
and in the South stretching up to Badjob village.
About 1000 people
could take shelter at Ulapgarh at a time. On the western side
of Ulapgarh and down hill there is Ushakothi cave.
It is believed
that Ulapgarh was being used as a residential fort by some kings
of “Naja” Dynasty. Research is going on by various Indian and
Foreign researchers and Historian in this direction.
Rock Painting and Lithography of Bikramkhol
On the Jharsuguda-Lakhanpur Road at about 25km. from
Jharsuguda there is a village known as Banjari. In the vicinity
of the village the ancient cave of Bikramkhol is located. There
are some ancient script engraved in the wall of Bikramkhol and
also paintings of animals. Circular holes have been dug in the
wall where weapons, dress and other articles of use were being
kept suspended. Bikramkhol has been declared a tourist spot by
the Central Government and tourists, historians and researchers
from all over the country and abroad.
Koilighughar water
fall (Lakhanpur)
The Koilighugar water fall is situated 55 kilometer
away from Jharsuguda in the Lakhanpur block near the village Kushmelbahal.
A rivulet named ‘Ahiraj’ takes origin from the ‘Chhuikhanch’ forest
and while flowing through its rocky belt falls from a height of
200 ft. creating the water fall of Koilighugar. After the
fall the rivulet flows west wards to merge into the river ‘Mahanadi’.
It is a picturesque beauty spot with its sylvan back drop.
Inside the fall there is a Shivalingam known as ‘Maheswarnath’.
There is an “Ashram’ of a holy man “Saham swami’ near the water
fall. Every year a fair sits in Kalighugar on the occasion of
Sivaratri.
Ramchandi: An ancient Shaktipitha
This important place of ‘Shakti Worship’ is located
10 km. away from Jharsuguda town inside a cave.
From the remote past Davi Ramchandi is being worshiped as the
reigning deity of Rampur region. The Shrine is famous not
only on the Rampur area but throughout the western Orissa. Many
pilgrims and devotees come to the Rampur cave from far and near
to visit and worship the goddess Ramchandi.
Shiva
Shrine of Mahadebpali
As the history of local area is clearly linked with
this temple it is considered to be one of the Astaswayambhus of
Jharsuguda district. Every year fair takes place here on the day
of Sivaratri.
Historical
Kolabira Fort
This fort is situated at a distance of 17 kms. From
the Jharsuguda town on the bank of river ‘Telen’.
Shree Pahadeswar
Temple, Jharsuguda is situated at the top of a small hill on the
eastern side of Jharsuguda and is another place of attraction
in the District.
On the South East direction of Jharsuguda and on the bank of river
Bhaden there is an ancient Sivashrine’ at Mahadebpali.
