Paschim Bardhaman district
Paschim Bardhaman district | |
---|---|
District of West Bengal | |
Coordinates: 23°41′N 86°59′E / 23.68°N 86.99°ECoordinates: 23°41′N 86°59′E / 23.68°N 86.99°E | |
Country | India |
State | West Bengal |
Division | Burdwan |
Headquarters | Asansol |
Area | |
• Total | 1,603 km2 (619 sq mi) |
Population (2011) | |
• Total | 2,882,031 |
• Density | 1,800/km2 (4,700/sq mi) |
Demographics | |
• Literacy | 78.75% |
Time zone | UTC+05:30 (IST) |
Website | wb |
Paschim Bardhaman district is one of the districts of the Indian state of West Bengal.
History[edit]
Bardhaman district was bifurcated into two districts, Purba Bardhaman district and Paschim Bardhaman district on 7 April 2017. Paschim Bardhaman district was composed of Asansol and Durgapur subdivisions, Purba Bardhaman district was composed of Bardhaman Sadar North, Bardhaman Sadar South, Katwa and Kalna subdivisions. While Bardhaman became headquarters of Purba Bardhaman district, Asansol became headquarters of Paschim Bardhaman district.[1]
The erstwhile Bardhaman district, earlier known as Burdwan district, was formed in 1765 when the East India Company acquired the diwani of Bardhaman. Several districts were formed out of the old district – Hooghly district in 1820, and Bankura and Birbhum in 1837. The district was subsequently divided into several subdivisions, replacing the earlier chaklas – Bud Bud in 1846, Katwa, Raniganj, Jahanabad (later renamed Arambagh) and Bardhaman Sadar in 1847, and Kalna in 1850. In 1906, Raniganj subdivision was made Asansol subdivision. The older parganas were converted to thanas (police stations). Durgapur sub division was carved out of Asansol subdivision in 1968.[2]
See also - Bardhaman Raj
Geography[edit]
Paschim Bardhaman district covers an area of 1,603 sq km. It has a literacy rate of 78.75%.[3]
Topographically, Paschim Bardhaman district is located between the Chotanagpur plateau and the Gangetic plain. It has a rocky undulating topography. The eastern part of the region gradually slopes down to Gangetic plain. The district is surrounded by rivers. It has the Ajay on the north, Damodar on the south and Barakar river in the west.[4]
Paschim Bardhaman district is bounded by Dumka district of Jharkhand and Birbhum district on the north, Purba Bardhaman district on the east. Bankura and Purulia districts, across the Damodar on the south, and Dhanbad district of Jharkhand on the west.[4]
Subdivisions in Paschim Bardhaman district are: Asansol Sadar subdivision and Durgapur subdivision.[5]
Community Development Blocks in Paschim Bardhaman district are: Raniganj, Jamuria, Barabani, Salanpur, Andal, Pandaveswar, Faridpur-Durgapur and Kanksa.[6]
Demographics[edit]
Paschim Bardhaman district has a population of 2,882,031. It has a literacy rate of 78.75%.[3]
Economy[edit]
Mining[edit]
Paschim Bardhaman district is rich in coal deposits. Raniganj Coalfield, located mostly in this district, was birth place of coal mining in India. Coal mining started in 1774 but systematic mining started in the second half of the nineteenth century. Raniganj coalfield has an estimated reserve of 30.61 billion tonnes of coal, the second largest deposit in the country, next only to Talcher Coalfield in Odisha. The coalfields are spread across Raniganj, Pandaveswar, Kajora, Jhanjra, Bankola, Kenda, Sonepur, Kunustoria, Satgram, Sripur, Sodepur and Salanpur. Coal bed methane has been found in this area.[4]
Industry[edit]
With a rich mineral base and power source, Paschim Bardhaman district is ideally suited for industries. Major industries includes IISCO Steel Plant, Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, Durgapur Steel Plant, Alloy Steel Plant, Durgapur Projects, Durgapur Chemicals, Mining & Allied Machinery Corporation and Durgapur Thermal Power Station.[4]
Agriculture[edit]
The major crops in this district are paddy, potatoes, mustard, sesame, wheat, pulses, etc.[7]
Transport[edit]
Some major railway stations In Paschim Bardhaman district are: Asansol Junction, Durgapur railway station, Raniganj railway station, Andal Junction railway station, Chittaranjan railway station, Sitarampur railway station and Burnpur railway station.[8]
National Highway 19 / Grand Trunk Road passes through Paschim Bardhaman district.[9]
See also - Category:Railway stations in Paschim Bardhaman district.
Notable people[edit]
Kazi Nazrul Islam, the renowned Bengali poet, was born on 24 May 1899 at Churulia.[10]
Education[edit]
The following institutions are located in Paschim Bardhaman district:
- Kazi Nazrul University was established in 2012 at Asansol.[11]
- Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute was established at Durgapur in 1958. It is the apex research and development institute for mechanical engineering under the aegis of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and is the only national level research institute in this field.[12]
- National Institute of Technology was established at Durgapur in 1960. It has been granted Deemed University status.[13][14]
- National Power Training Institute – the eastern regional centre was established at Durgapur in 1968.[15]
Note: More Information about private engineering colleges and degree colleges are available in the subdivision pages.
Healthcare[edit]
The major medical facilties in the district are:[16]
- Asansol District Hospital at Asansol with 450 beds
- Durgapur Subdivisional Hospital at Durgapur with 282 beds
- Asansol Special Jail Hospital at Burnpur with 20 beds
- Bansara Hospital (ECL) at Kalla with 50 beds
- Burnpur Hospital (SAIL) at Burnpur with 550 beds
- Central Hospital (ECL) at Kalla with with 450 beds
- Divisional Railway Hospital at Asansol with 225 beds
- ESI Hospital at Asansol with 150 beds
- KG Hopital at Chittaranjan with 150 beds
- Sanctoria Hospital (ECL) at Sanctoria with 250 beds
- Satgram Hospital (ECL) at Satgram with 50 beds
- T,B.Hospital (ECL) at Searsol Rajbati with 50 beds
- Andal Railway Hospital at Andal with 50 beds
- Bankola Area Hospital (ECL) at Khandra with 50 beds
- Durgapur Projects Hospital at Durgapur with 83 beds
- Durgapur Steel Plant Hospital (SAIL) at Durgapur 631 beds
- Durgapur Thermal Power Station Hospital (DVC) at Durgapur with 30 beds
- Damodar Valley Corporation Hospital at Durgapur with 30 beds
- Food Corporation of India Hospital at Ondal with 50 beds
Note: The subdivision and community development block pages provide information about medical facilities within their jurisdiction.
References[edit]
- ↑ "The Kolkata Gazette dated 24 March 2017" (PDF). Notification. Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms and e-Governance, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ↑ "Paschim Bardhaman". History. Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Paschim Bardhaman". Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "District Industrial Profile 2017-18" (PDF). Paschim Bardhaman district. Ministry of MSME, Government of India. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ↑ "Paschim Bardhaman". About District -Subdivisions and Blocks. Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ↑ "Paschim Bardhaman". Administrative Setup. Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ↑ "District-wise Crop Production in West Bengal". Paschim (West) Burdwan (Bardhaman). Agri Farming. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ↑ "Railway stations in Paschim Bardhaman districtict". Famous Fix. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ↑ "Paschim Bardhaman". Tourism/ How to Reach. Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ↑ "Islam, Nazrul Kazi". Banglapedia. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ↑ "Kazi Nazrul University". About Us - The Chronicle. KNU. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ↑ "CSIR - CMERI". CMERI. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ↑ "National Institute of Technology Durgapur". NIT Durgapur. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ↑ "NIT Durgapur". College Duniya. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ↑ "National Power Training Institute". Durgapur. NPTI. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ↑ "Directory of Medical Institutions: West Bengal (as on 31 March 2018" (PDF). Paschim Bardhaman, page 167. Directorate of Health Services, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 28 June 2023.