Social,
Environmental & Economic Sustainability
Our analysis of the rank of the district
Backwardness : 91
Sex Ratio Rank : 355
(Rank one is least sex ratio - Cenus 2001)
HIV Category District : C
(HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2004 - 2006)
Disability : 460 (Census 2001)
Literacy Ratio : 224 (Census 2001)
Minority : Does not figure in MCD
Challenges of the district : Our research with local communities
Lakhimpur is a low lying area. It rains here heavily
leading to frequent floods.
Migration is another issue we face. Due to floods, displacement
& unemployment, people migrate to other places to have a living.
Dams are not properly built. There are no other sources of water.
People here are poor. We have no major industries in Lakhimpur leading
to acute unemployment.
Brief About Lakhimpur District
The name Lakhimpur is believed to be originated from the word
“Lakshmi”, the goddess of prosperity. The district is mainly dependent
upon agriculture and paddy. Paddy is regarded locally as “Lakhimi”.
The word “pur” means “full”. Lakhimpur therefore means full of
paddy or the place where paddies are grown abundantly. Besides,
the soil of the district is alluvial and fertile for which crops
flourish without use of any artificial manure or hard labour.
Over and above fish, meat, vegetables, milk
were abundant in this district.
Others say that the
word originated from Lakhsmi Devi, the mother of Bhuyan Raja who was the descendent of King Arimatta . As per Lakhimpur District
Gazette (1976:4) , the district was notified as Lakhimpur District
through a proclamation issued by then Governor General on July,
1839. On 2nd October, 1971 the district
was reorganized with two
sub divisions viz. Dhemaji and
North
Lakhimpur . Later it was again reorganized in the
year 1980 with two subdivisions viz. Dhakuakhana
and North Lakhimpur leaving Dhemaji
as a separate district.
The district was earlier regarded
as “Koliapani” because there was practically no road communication
to this district till 1950. In the year 1954, the temporary
aerodrome was started. From 1957 the ASTC buses started plying
from Lakhimpur and from 1963 the North East Frontier Railway started
train services from this district.
Location : Lakhimpur District is situated
on the North East corner of Assam
. The district lies between 26048’
and 27053’ northern latitude and 93042’
and 94020’ east longitude (approx.)
Boundary : It is bounded on the north by Siang and Papumpare
District of Arunachal Pradesh and on the east by Dhemaji District
and Subansiri river. Majuli Sub Division of Jorhat District stands
on the southern side and
Gahpur sub division of Sonitpur District is on the West.
Forest : Forests of the district are
mainly tropical rain forest. The important reserved forests of
the district are Ranga Reserve, Kakoi
Reserve, Dulung Reserve and Pava Reserve . The
varieties of tree species grown in the forest area
are Hollock (Terminalia Myriocarpa) , Urium (Bichotia Jauvanica),
Nahar (Mesua Ferrea), Ajhar (lagerstroemia speciosa), Simul (Bombax
ceiba/Salmalia Malabarica), Sum (Machilus), Sualu , Gomari (gmelina
orborea), Sissoo (Dalbergia Sissoo), Jutuli (Altingia excelsa),
Silikha (Terminalia Chebula), Neem (Azadirachta Indica), Sopa
(Magnolia) etc.
The
River System and Flood :
1. The Brahmaputra
:- The mighty river Brahmaputra is the southern boundary
of the district and it touches all along the southern and southeastern
boundary.
2. The Subansiri
: The river Subansiri is originated from Tibet and enters
the plains of Lakhimpur and Dhemaji district. The total length
of the river is 326 miles up to the international boarder. The
catchments area of the river is 10,148 Sqmiles in Arunachal Pradesh
and 440 SqMiles in Assam. The river discharges 2,09,546 Cusecs
of water at Bhimpara Ghat.
3.
The Ranganadi : The river originates from the Dafla hills of
Arunachal Pradesh. The total length of the river is 90 miles and
total catchments area is 839 Sqmiles in Arunachal Pradesh
and 296 Sqmiles in Assam. It discharges 17,500 cusecs of
water at 2 miles up stream of National Highway –52.
4. The Dikrong
: The Dikrong originates from the Dafla Hills of Arunachal Pradesh.
In Arunachal Pradesh, it is known as Par Nadi. It
enters the plains near Harmutty Tea Estate and runs 25 miles to
join the Brahmaputra at Badati. It discharges 20,000 cusecs of
water at 1 mile down stream of National Highway-52. The catchments
area of the river is 512 Sqmiles in Arunachal Pradesh
and 101 Sqmiles in Assam. The causes of flood in Lakhimpur
District are due to excessive rainfalls in Assam and Arunachal
Pradesh, melting of snow at Tibet and bursting of
dams, which are formed by the landslides at the rivers flowing
from Arunachal Pradesh. During flood the rivers get
charged with enormous quantity of silt and in their movement
the rivers alter the conditions of flow and sometimes changes
the river course causing untold miseries to the people living
in its low-lying basin.
Mineral
There is no
major exploration of minerals in this district. The great Subansiri
river was once famous for gold washing.
Fauna
With the increase
of human population and large-scale deforestation of existing
forest, the wild animal of various species are dwindling due to
loss of habitat etc. Presently wild elephants, buffaloes,
tigers, deer, hyenas are seen in the forest area. Varieties of
bird species are available in swampy areas.
Administrative Set up Lakhimpur district
with its headquarters at North Lakhimpur and the sub divisional
headquarters at Dhakuakhana includes the following
Revenue circles : Lakhimpur, Dhakuakhana, Kadam, Nauboicha,
Bihpuria, Narayanpur and Subansiri ( Ghilamara) and
there are 9 Nos. of Blocks viz. Narayanpur, Bihpuria,
Karunabari , Nowboicha, Telahi, Lakhimpur , Boginadi, Ghilamara
and Dhakuakhana.
