| Voice of West Tripura
: Bapan Debbarma
People live in acute poverty.
Here we hardly have any employment opportunities. People struggle
to survive. Government should bring in some alternate livelihood.
West Tripura is dominated by tribes.
Tripura faces a major problem of terrorism. This has hampered the
development of tribal regions.
West Tripura
Area, Population & Sex Ratio
Geographical Area : 3033.0 Km2
Population in West Tripura (Census 2011)
Total Population
Total : 1724619
Male : 877930
Female : 846689
Under 6 population
Total : 184656
Male : 95085
Female : 89571
Disabled population
Total disabled population : 26938
In seeing : 12375
In speech : 2434
In hearing : 2615
In movement : 6536
Mental : 2978
Rank ( VoiceOfBharat.org Analysis
)
Backwardness : Does not figure in list of 447 backward
districts
Sex Ratio Rank : 358
(Rank one is least sex ratio - Cenus 2001)
HIV Category District : C
(HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2004 - 2006)
Disability : 353 (Census 2001)
Literacy Ratio : NA
Minority : Does not figure in MCD
Brief About West Tripura
West Tripura History
LOCATION AND AREA
While Tripura as a whole lies approximately between
the north latitude 22 degrees 56' and 24 degrees 32' and between
longitude 91 degrees 0' and 92 degrees 20' east, the West Tripura
district lies approximately between latitude 23 degrees 16' to 24
degrees 14' north and longitude 91 degrees 09' east to 91 degrees
47' east. The West Tripura District is bounded by Bangladesh in
the north and west by North Tripura in the east and by South Tripura
in the south. Total area of the district is 3544 sq.kms. The district
headquarters is located at Agartala, which is also the capital of
the State.
HISTORY
Tripura was a princely State. Bir Bikram Kishore
Manikya was the last King. After the death of Bir Bikram Kishore
Manikya in May 1947, a council of regency under the leadership of
his widowed wife Maharani Kanchanpura Devi took over charge of administration
on behalf of the minor prince Kirit Bikram Kishore Manikya.
Monarchy came to its end on 9th September 1947.
Tripura was taken as a Part-C state administered by Chief Commissioner.
Tripura became a Union Territory on 1st November 1956. The Territorial
Council was formed on August 15, 1959. The dissolution of Territorial
Council and formation of Legislative Assembly and a Council of Ministers
in July 1963 were notable events. Finally Tripura became a full-fledged
State in January 1972. The district administration was run by one
District Magistrate and Collector upto 31.8.1970. For better attention
of problems of land and tenancies, for accelerating the pace of
development in this backward area especially in the remote Tribal
areas and for bringing the people closer to the administration Tripura
was divided into three districts, viz., North Tripura District,
West Tripura District and South Tripura District. Three district
Magistrates and Collectors were appointed for the three districts
from 1-9-1970. While it was one District Union Territory there were
10 sub-divisions. When it became a full-fledged State, the 10 sub-divisions
remained the same. The West Tripura district comprises three sub-divisions
viz., Khowai, Sadar and Sonamura while North Tripura District is
comprises Kailashhar, Dharmanagar and kamalpur and South Tripura
District comprises remaining Udaipur, Amarpur, Belonia and Sabroom
sub-divisions. Out of the six principal hill ranges namely Baramura
and part of Athramura fall within the district.
LANGUAGES AND RELIGION
Main languages spoken in the district are Bengali,
Kakbarak and Manipuri. Religion wise breakup of population is indicated
below as per 1981 census :
Hindus : 906543
Muslims : 65552
Christians : 3143
Sikhs : 209
Buddhists : 643
Jains : 143
Other religions and
persuasioins : 14
Religion not stated : 5
GEOGRAPHY AND PHYSICAL FEATURES
Tripura was known as `Hill Tipperah' and the very
much nomenclature is suggestive of its hilly nature of undulating
surface made uneven by inter- sparced low hills. A series of hill
ranges running north and south divide the territory into broad parallel
valleys, consisting of undulating tillas (hillocks) covered with
jungle with totuous streane. There are six principal hill ranges
in the State increasing in height as one moves west to east (from
the sumit of the ranges one has a striking view of the surroundings,
a heaving monetary of evergreen landscape). Out of the six principal
ranges, Baramura and Deotamura ranges and Atharamura ranges partly
fall within West Tripura.
Baramura Deotomura Range : The portion of the above
ranges lying in West Tripura District is the Baramura range which
is almost 47 km. having the highest peak Saisum Sib (249 mtrs.)
Atharamura Range : This range starts from Amarpur
Sub-division of South Tripura District and then enters into the
Khowai Sub-division of WEst Tripura and runs along the border of
WEst Tripura and North Tripura District. Its highest peak in the
West Tripura District is Niungnanwra (481 mtrs.)
It is true that the State as a whole was, in the
bygone days, far richer in forest wealth but with the increasing
pressure on land through population increase has rendered this rich
forest susceptible to decay, through the process of reckless falling
of the trees for different reasons like settlement of landuse and
jhumes in some cases and for also augmenting the revenue of the
erstwhile princely State even since the past great wars. With the
increase in population, the pressure on land was intensive and the
tall tress of the forest had to give way to the increasing need
to settling the refugees who came in exodus to this tiny state as
well as for maintaining jhum cycle for the considerable percentage
of Tribal who still continues to practice jhum cultivation. Without
being scholarly to discuss the extent of ecological imbalances created
by such indiscriminate exploitation of forest for immediate reasons,
it is very much clear that the State has suffered quite heavily
in the forest wealth during the past decade. The experimentation
for introduction of rubber plantation, which was found suitable
for the soil and climatic condition of the State has also proved
to be successful and thus brightened the prospect of this sector
which might go a long way in the total economic development of the
State as a whole. The total area under rubber plantation has been
increased to 3320.77 hectares from the experimental minimum of 5.80
hectares in 1963. The Tripura Forest Development and Plantation
Corporation Limited, a public sector enterprise under the State
Government have also taken intensive programme of development of
rubber plantation in the whole state as well as West Tripura District.
Coffee plantation is another addition in the sector
which has attained a coverage of 10183 hectares in 1981 from 2.40
hectares in 1975. Tripura, being a land locked State is having constraint
in importing coal for domestic use. The extent of fire-wood supplied
from forests is about 177000 cu.m. The supply of firewood from the
forest is also a main source of livelihood for the population residing
in the interior forest area. The quantity of timber produced from
the forest as in 1980-81 is about 37204 cu.m As stated earlier,
the details for the district in particular are lacking but the overall
picture of the State will reflect the position as obtained in the
West Tripura District.
RIVERS, CANALS AND WATERWAYS
The following rivers flow within the West Tripura
districts :
Gomati : The Gomati which is the principal river
is formed by the confluence of two revultes; Raimas and Sarma. The
Raima originates from the Longtharai range and the Sarma from the
Atharamura range and the two meet near `Dhuchaibari' in the South
Eastern boundary of the South Tripura district and then assuming
the name of Gomati Nadi running through gorges upto the Dumbur fall
in the Amarpur sub-division. Gomati withh length of 133 kms. ( a
bi river) and runs across the Amarpur and Udaipur sub-divisions
of south Tripura District and Sonamura sub-division in West Tripura
district and then flows towards Bangladesh by the side of Sonamura
Town of WEst Tripura District. The tributaries of the Gomnati river
on the right bank are Labachhara, Datakchhara, Sarbongchhara, Saugang,
Patavgang and Noachhara and on the lift bank are Rambhadhachhara,
Ekchhari, Chelagang, Kurmachhara, Maharanichhara and Ranigan. Khowai
: Source of the river is the Longtharai range. It is 166 kms. In
length and it taken its way almost towards north-western direction
upto Teliamura of WEst Tripura district and then towards north till
it enters into Bangladesh. Its tributaries on the right bank are
Baluchhara, Jeulchhaara, Chamalachhara, Alladiachhara, Baskarachhara,
Maharanichhara, Tuirupachhara, Samruchhara and Lalchhara and on
the left bank are Gulechhara, Nunachhara, Kakrachhara, Brahmachhara,
Sarduchhara, Trishnachhara, Gangraichhara and Solaichhara.
Howrah : It rises from the Baramura range and its
tributaries are Dowaigang, Ghoramara and Debda on the right bank
and Charupanadi, Dhobatilachhara and Bangeswargang on the left bank.
The length of Howrah river is 53 kms. and it flows towards west
and enters into Bangladesh by side of Agartala town, the capital
of the State. Burigang : It rise from Baramura and flows towards
west and ultimately enters into Bangladesh. There are long river
valleys extending over a vast area in different sub-divisions formed
mostly of deep alluvial deposits with rich fertility excellently
suited for the cultivation of paddy jute, oil seeds, spices, fruits
and vegetables would be evident from the aforementioned position.
The source of all rivers are in Tripura itself. Due to the indiscriminate
felling of trees the ecology of Tripur is being affected to a great
extent, Human beings and trees belong to the category of living
species. There is a gap of feeling which might be attributed to
the factors of immediate benefit as the very question of subsistence
is involved particularly when the majority of the people in Tripura
are below poverty line. Exploitation and not extinction should be
the way of life. If that be the case the forest resources which
are national wealth should be preserved in such a way that they
are exploited and not extinct. Else danger is inherent in expressing
their displeasure. The signs of danger, are apparent when we see
erosion of soils due to indiscriminate felling of trees. There is
uneven rainfall. Water flows merry- go-round. It carries sands which
turns into deposits causing heavy damage to fertile lands which
are going to be scarce particularly when the population is increasing
in geometrical progression.
Kharwar, Shri Ghanshyam Chandra
16-B, Ferozeshah Road,
New Delhi 110001
Tel. - 23315653,
Mobile 9868181053
kdas@sansad.nic.in
Inderlok Colony, Pohitipur Road,
Sahajadpur, Akbarpur,
Ambedkar Nagar (UP)
Tel. - {05271}245636
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