Sagardighi (community development block)

Sagardighi
সাগরদীঘি সমষ্টি উন্নয়ন ব্লক
Community development block
Sagardighi

Location in West Bengal, India

Coordinates: 24°17′N 88°06′E / 24.28°N 88.10°E / 24.28; 88.10Coordinates: 24°17′N 88°06′E / 24.28°N 88.10°E / 24.28; 88.10
Country  India
State West Bengal
District Murshidabad
Government
 • MLA Subrata Saha
Area
 • Total 345.20 km2 (133.28 sq mi)
Elevation 32 m (105 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Total 310,461
 • Density 900/km2 (2,300/sq mi)
Languages
 • Official Bengali, English
Literacy (2011)
 • Total literates 172,182 (65.27%)
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 742226 (Sagardighi)
Telephone code 91 3483
Vehicle registration WB-57, WB-58
Sex ratio 962 ♂/♀
Lok Sabha constituency Jangipur
Vidhan Sabha constituency Sagardighi
Website murshidabad.gov.in

Sagardighi is a community development block that forms an administrative division in Jangipur subdivision of Murshidabad district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Sagardighi police station serves this block. Headquarters of this block is at Sagardighi.

Sagardighi is about 30 kilometres (19 mi) north-west of Baharampur by road.[1]Morgram, the junction of NH 34 and Panagarh–Morgram Highway is part of Sagardighi block. An area steeped in history, it has been in focus because of the expansion programme of Sagardighi Thermal Power Station.

History

Stone Age

Small weapons made of stone, which are around 15,000-20,000 years old, have been discovered by archaeologists of the State Archaeology Department at Ekani Chandpara in Sagardighi. Apart from the weapons they also discovered raw materials and scrap, which indicates that the weapons were made at this place itself.[2][3]

Pala period

Sagardighi has many remains of the Pala dynasty. There is a lake of the name, which is the largest in the district. It was dug up by Mahipala.[1]

Gauda Sultanate

Hussain Shah, the greatest of Sultans of Gauda, was associated with Chandpara or Ekani Chandpara in Sagardighi block.[4] Sekherdighi is a large lake excavated by him.[1]

British Period

During the British Raj, the Murshidabad leadership of the Nawabs became weak and the British gave charge of revenue collections to a few noble Rajput Marwari's. These nobles were given the title of 'Zamindar' (Land owners). The Kothari family reigned over Sagardighi from the time of Mir Qasim until the abolishment of the Zamindari system after the independence of India. The last ruling Zamindar of Sagardighi and the surrounding areas of Ratanpur was Bimal Singh Kothari. His family/descendants continue to live in Calcutta (now Kolkata).

Geography

Location

Sagardighi is located at 24°17′N 88°06′E / 24.28°N 88.10°E / 24.28; 88.10

Sagardighi CD Block is bounded by Raghunathganj I and Raghunathganj II CD Blocks in the north, Lalgola CD Block in the east, Nabagram CD Block in the south and Nalhati II CD Block, in Birbhum district, in the west.[5]

Physical features

The Bhagirathi divides the district into two parts namely Bagri on the east and Rahr on the west. The Padma separates the district from Malda district, and Chapai Nawabganj and Rajshahi districts of Bangladesh.[6]

The surface of land to the west of the Bhagirathi, the area in which Sagardighi lies, is high and undulating. The soil is hard clay and the climate is somewhat dry. This area is an extension of the Rarh region.[7] Sagardighi is in a zone affected by floods but the impact is less severe than in the adjoining Kandi subdivision.[8][9]

Gram Panchayats

Rural area under Sagardighi block consists of 11 gram panchayats, viz. Harhari, Balia, Bokhara–I, Kabilpur, Patkeldanga, Bannyeswar, Bokhara–II, Manigram, Sagardighi, Barala, Gobordhandanga and Moregram.[10] There is no urban area under this block.[11] Sagardighi police station serves this block.[12] Headquarters of this block is in Sagardighi.

Chandpara and Kherur are villages under Monigram gram panchayat.

Migratory birds

Some 2,000 migratory open-bill storks, locally known as shamukkhol (oyster shell), are found settling every year near the marshy lands in the Milki area of Sagardighi.[13]

Demographics

As per 2011 Census of India Sagardighi CD Block had a total population of 310,461, all of which were rural. There were 158,641 (51%) males and 151,820(49%)females. Population below 6 years numbered 46,641. Scheduled Castes numbered 58,308 and Scheduled Tribes numbered 19,811.[14]

In 2011 Sagardighi (village) had a population of 1,966.[14]

In 2001, Sagardighi CD Block had a population of 252,360 in 2001, out of which 128,596 were males and 123,764 were females. Decadal growth during the period 1991-2001 was 26.76 per cent against decadal growth of 23.70 per cent in Murshidabad District.[15] Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.84 per cent.[16]

Large villages

Large villages in Sagardighi CD Block were (2011 population figures in brackets):Ramna Sekhdighi (6,367), Gangadda (4,801), Kismatgadi (4,185), Kantanagar (9,453), Manigram (4,162), Bokhara (8,000), Jugor (6,080), Popara (10,107), Balia (10,299), Kabilpur (16,489), Charkabilpur (5,438), Char Mathurapur (7,112), Sinheswari Gauripur (4,921) and Dasturhat (9,959).[14]

Literacy

As per 2011 census the total number of literates in Sagardighi CD Block was 172,182 (65.27% of the population above 6 years) out of which 92,101 (53%) were males and 80,081 (47%) were females.[14]

As per 2011 census, literacy in Murshidabad district was 66.59.[17]Literacy in West Bengal was 77.08% in 2011.[18]Literacy in India in 2011 was 74.04%.[18]

Language

Bengali is the local language in these areas.[5]

Economics

Agriculture

Agriculture plays a vital role in the economy of the district. Sericulture industry is the principal agro-based rural industry.[7]

Daily market

Sagardighi plays a most role in the economy of the Block.

Sagardighi Thermal Power Station

Sagardighi Thermal Power Station of West Bengal Power Development Corporation Limited has two generators of 300 MW each. The site is about 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) from Monigram railway station of the Bandel-Barhawara section of Eastern Railway. NH 34 is about 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) from the site. It is on the western bank of the Bhagirathi.[19][20] The project was developed by the Chinese firm, Dongfang Electric Corporation, at a cost of Rs. 27.50 billion.[21] The power plant had provided employment for about 2,000 people. The state government had acquired 1,600 acres (650 ha) of land without resistance.[22]

The state government is expected to spend around Rs. 80 billion on Sagardighi plant expansion.[23]

Sagardighi Thermal Power Project with its two units of 300MW capacity is running successfully. Two more units of 500MW capacity are being constructed by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)

Transportation

Nearest railway station is Sagardighi (SDI).

Culture

Kherur mosque

Kherur Mosque is located on the top of a mound at Kherur in Sagardighi. The 15th century mosque, spread over an area of 2 acres (0.81 ha), was built by Rafat Khan during the reign of Sultan Hussain Shah. The mosque is rectangular in shape. There is a domed prayer chamber. The mosque has four minarets at four corners.[1][24]

Chandanbati temple

Chandanbati temple is a major tourist attraction.[1][25]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Tourism". Sagardighi Zone. District Administration. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
  2. ↑ Bhattasali, Amitabha (28 March 2008). "Ancient weapons dug up in India". BBC News, 28 March 2008. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
  3. ↑ "Stone Age weapons dug up in India". Archaeo News, 31 March 2008. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
  4. ↑ "Chronological History of Murshidabad". Independent Sultanate of Gauda. District Administration. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
  5. 1 2 "Sagardighi Block". onefivenine. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  6. ↑ "Murshidabad". Geography. Murshidabad district. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  7. 1 2 "MURSHIDABAD DISTRICT". National Institute of Communicable Diseases. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
  8. ↑ "Murshidabad" (PDF). Retrieved 14 February 2009.
  9. ↑ "Bengal flood claims 420 lives, situation marginally improves". Retrieved 14 February 2009.
  10. ↑ "Directory of District, Sub division, Panchayat Samiti/ Block and Gram Panchayats in West Bengal, March 2008". West Bengal. National Informatics Centre, India. 19 March 2008. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
  11. ↑ "District Wise List of Statutory Towns( Municipal Corporation,Municipality,Notified Area and Cantonment Board), Census Towns and Outgrowths, West Bengal, 2001". Census of India, Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
  12. ↑ "List of Districts/C.D.Blocks/ Police Stations with Code No., Number of G.Ps and Number of Mouzas". Census of India, Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
  13. ↑ "Migratory birds count dwindle". The Statesman, 18 October 2003. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "C.D. Block Wise Primary Census Abstract Data(PCA)". West Bengal – District-wise CD Blocks. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  15. ↑ "Provisional Population Totals, West Bengal , Table 4". Census of India 2001, Murshidabad district. Census Commissioner of India. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
  16. ↑ "Provisional Population Totals, West Bengal. Table 4". Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 2012-04-12.
  17. ↑ "District Census 2011". Population Census 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  18. 1 2 "Provisional population tables and annexures" (PDF). Census 2011:Table 2(3) Literates and Literacy rates by sex. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  19. ↑ "Sagardighi Thermal Power Station" (PDF). Summary Environment Assessment Report. West Bengal Power Development Corporation. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
  20. ↑ "Sagardighi thermal plant to begin generation by Aug-end". Economic Times. 17 July 2008. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
  21. ↑ "Sagardighi power plant to begin generation by August". Projects Today, 17 July 2008. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
  22. ↑ "CM promise to land losers". The Daily Telegraph. 23 March 2008. Retrieved 15 February 2009.
  23. ↑ "Katwa project on, says govt". The Times of India. 30 August 2008. Retrieved 15 February 2009.
  24. ↑ "Kherur Mosque". india9.com. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
  25. ↑ "Sagardighi". india9.com. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
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