Barh

Barh
बाढ़
Town
Barh

Location in Bihar, India

Coordinates: 25°29′N 85°43′E / 25.48°N 85.72°E / 25.48; 85.72Coordinates: 25°29′N 85°43′E / 25.48°N 85.72°E / 25.48; 85.72
Country  India
State Bihar
Division Patna
District Patna
Elevation 47 m (154 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Total 316,348
Languages
 • Official Magahi, Hindi
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 803212,803213,803214
Telephone code 06132
Website patna.nic.in

Barh, is a town and subdivision in Patna district of Bihar, India. It is located on the southern bank of the Ganges River, 34 miles (55 km) south-east of Patna, the state capital.

Etymology

Barh was one of the largest lentil- and pulse-producing regions of India during the British Raj. However in a bizzare decision, most of the agricultural land being used for the pulse production was acquired for setting up of Super Thermal Power unit by NTPC. Situated on the southern bank of the river Ganges, some 60 km east of Patna, the town was a stopover for ships sailing to and from Calcutta, ferrying grains and lentils. The town's name may have derived from the Persian word bargah, which translates as 'twelfth' in English, as Barh's position in the order of such stopovers was twelfth.

The town is low-lying and was frequently flooded by the Ganges before the Bandh Road was constructed. The Hindi word for a flood is barh, and it has been alternatively suggested as the etymological origin of the name. Other sources suggest that the first sitting of the Bar in India was held here in 1884. Before this event the name of the town was Umanath Nagar, after the local Umanath Temple. After the event, the town began to be called Bar, as shown in various maps of India from 1834 to 1896, and Barh thereafter.

Another historical and religious importance of this place is related to river Ganga. Barh is the second such point where Ganga is flowing from South to North. The other place being Varanasi.

Demographics

As of 2011 India census, Barh block had a total population of 3,16,348, with 1,62,354 males and 1,53,994 females. Barh has an average literacy rate of 95.0% (300,530literate).[1]

Politics

Barh returns a member to the Bihar Legislative Assembly and forms part of the Munger Parliamentary Constituency.

Despite being one of the largest Sub-divisions and numerous announcement, Barh has not been accorded the status of District. In 1990s, the oldest subdivision of Bihar was announced district however within few days the decision was recalled under mysterious circumstances.

Historical Structures

The Barh court area is more than 150 years old. The Umanath Temple is said to be more than 800 years old. The tomb of Suleiman Chisti was built by the Pathan emperor Sher Shah Suri. A mosque believed locally to have been constructed by the daughter of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb is situated on the banks of the Ganges in Barh.

Transport

Barh lies on National Highway 31 which connects it to major cities. The town also has a railway station with the same name.

NTPC Barh

NTPC Limited is India's largest power-generating company. The then prime minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, laid the foundation stone of the main plant of stage 1 of NTPC Barh Super Thermal Power Station on 6 March 1999. Then Union power minister Sushil Kumar Shinde inaugurated the main plant house of stage 2 of NTPC Barh on 29 May 2006. Around 3.3 GW of coal-generated power will be added at Barh.[2] The three-unit 1.98 GW Barh I is being built by Russian firm Technopromexport (TPE), and the other two-unit 1.32 GW Barh II extension is being built by BHEL.[3] On 12 October 2013, 660MW unit of NTPC Barh was synchronised with the grid.[4][5][6]

References

  1. ↑ "Block Wise Population 2011 (Summary)". patna.bih.nic.in. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  2. ↑ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/70-local-workforce-for-expressway-construction/articleshow/24001955.cms
  3. ↑ http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-10-10/patna/42899597_1_barh-project-power-project-power-minister
  4. ↑ Barh power plant's 1st unit to be ready by June 2013 - The Times of India
  5. ↑ Barh power plant by 2013-14: NTPC CMD - Times Of India
  6. ↑ CM sets off Barh countdown
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