Murguma Dam

The Murguma Dam^[1]^[2] is constructed on the Saharajhore River,^[3] one of the tributary of Kangsabati River in West Bengal, India. The dam is constructed near Murguma^[4] village in the foothill of Ajodhya Hills, Purulia District. A number of other streams also flow into the dam directly from Ajodhya Hills. The dam is surrounded by hills, forests and a number of small islands^[5] within it. The place is situated at the north west end of Ajodhya Hills which is considered as an eastern extension of Chota Nagpur Plateau.

People and economy[edit | edit source]

The area is basically inhabited by tribal people,^[6]^[2] mainly Santal people.^[7] The economy is mainly dependent on agriculture.^[8] However, the place has a good potentiality to be a popular tourist spot which can improve economic condition of the local people. The government is promoting this place as a tourist destination.^[4] This dam is a part of one of the key small irrigation projects^[9] in rural as well as arid areas of West Bengal^[3]^[7] having a considerable percentage of tribal population.^[7]^[6] It is one of the promising tourist spots of Eastern Chota Nagpur Plateau region. Till date, no facility of boating offered. The dam and surroundings are preferred locations for backpackers.^[10] The dam features in the tourism brochure of Government Tourist Department of Purulia District.^[11]

Accessibility[edit | edit source]

The nearest railway station is Jhalda, from where the place is accessible by single metaled road. The other option is to follow the Purulia-Tamna more-Arsha-Begunkodor-Murguma(50 km) route. The accessibility is somehow not so good but that is perhaps one of the reasons that the place still offers wild beauty. Distance from nearby places: Ajodhya Hills Top = 20 km, Jhalda = 16 km, Begunkodor town = 6 km, Begunkodar rail FH = 12 km, Kolkata = 340 km, Purulia = 50 km, Durgapur = 185 km (via Bankura) 165 km (via Asansol), Bankura = 140 km, Jamshedpur = 110 km, Ranchi = 95 km, Asansol = 134 km,

Miscellaneous[edit | edit source]

Being far from urban disturbance, this dam is a location for research on indigenous aquatic flora^[12]^[13] and fauna.^[14] This area was affected by Maoist insurgency a few years back but now returned to normalcy.^[15]