Kokrajhar District
| Total Population : 905,764 |
| Total literate : 383,541 |
| Rural : 841,823 |
Urban : 63,941 |
| Male : 466,191 |
Female : 439,573 |
| Area : 3,169.22 sq. km. |
|
MP
: Loksabha
Kokrajhar
MP
Sansuma Khunggur Bwiswmuthiary
CONSTITUENCY : Kokrajhar (ST) (Assam )
PARTY : Independent (Ind.)
Present
Address
7, Ferozeshah Road
New Delhi - 110 001
Tels. (011) 23782979, 23782406, 9868180649 (M)
Permanent
Address
Vill. Kathalguri,
P.O. Haloadal via Kokrajhar
Distt. Kokrajhar,
Bodoland -783 374 (Assam)
Tel. (03661) 270760
Brief
about District
Kokrajhar
is one of the twenty-three districts of Assam and
can be described as the gateway to the northeastern
region of India. Both road and rail touches this district
at Srirampur before they go on to other districts
in Assam and
the other northeast states. The district has a total
area of 3,169.22 sq. km. and a total population of
9,30,404 according to the Census-2001.
Kokrajhar district is located on the north bank of
the river Brahmaputra that slices the state of Assam
into two, identified as north and south banks. The
district lies roughly between 89.46' E to 90.38' E
longitudes and 26.19" N to 26.54" N latitudes. The
district is bounded on the north by the Himalayan
kingdom of Bhutan, by Dhubri district on the south,
Bongaigaon district on the east and the Indian state
of West Bengal on the west.
The
district can be easily reached as both the mainline
road and rail passes through this district. There
are beautiful places to visit in the district, especially
in the northern side, where the natural scenery is
exquisite. There are also numerous natural picnicking
spots. It has to be admitted that these places are
yet to be developed as tourist spots. But there is
a great deal of scope even now for those who are adventurous
and willing to witness the glory of nature in all
its rugged beauty.
The kingdom of Bhutan is intricately linked with the
district of Kokrajhar in many vital aspects of life
of the people living both in the Bhutan hills and
the plains of Kokrajhar. There is hassle-free movement
of the people across the international border for
the purpose of business and tours. The Bhutanese town
of Gelephu is a nice place to visit from Kokrajhar
as it is just across the international boundary. There
is a fine road leading from the Shyamthaibari point
on the National Highway 31(C) to Gelephu. Further
on, inside Bhutanese territory, there is the town
of Sarbhang that also can be visited via Gelephu.
The colourful Bodo community comprises the majority
in Kokrajhar district. It also has a sizeable Rajbongshi
and Santhal population.
Kokrajhar is also the headquarter of the Bodoland
Autonomous Council which was created in 1993.
History
:
Kokrajhar
was originally a part of undivided Goalpara district.
Till 1956, it was merely a small village with a railway
station that connected it to the rest of the world.
In 1957, when Bimala Prasad Chaliha was the Chief
Minister of Assam, a new Civil Sub-division was created
after carving out the northern part of Dhubri Sub-division
and some parts of Goalpara Sub-division. This new
sub-division was called Kokrajhar Sub-division. Goalpara
district thus became divided into three sub-divisions.
The area covered by the then Kokrajhar Sub-division
consisted of five tracts of the Eastern Dooars, viz.,
Bijni, Sidli, Chirang, Ripu and Guma with a total
area of 1569.9 square miles or 4065.88 square kilometres.
On the 1st of July, 1983 the Kokrajhar
Sub-division was upgraded into Kokrajhar district
with the headquarter at Kokrajhar town. There were
four police stations in the new district. They were
Bijni, Sidli, Kokrajhar and Gossaigaon. The area of
the district extended from the Manas river in the
east to the Sonkosh on the west.
In 1989, there was further reorganization of the districts
and some new districts were created. Thus, about 40%
of the total geographical area of Kokrajhar district
was carved out for inclusion in the new district of
Bongaigaon. The area delimited from Kokrajhar district
to Bongaigaon covers the entire Bijni Revenue Circle
along with 347.50 square kilometres of Sidli Circle.
Later on 20 villages of Naikgaon G.P. with a total
area 40.22 square km under Chapar Revenue Circle of
Dhubri district was transferred to Kokrajhar district.
The present geographical area of Kokrajhar district
is estimated to be 3,169.22 square km.
The
district now has two revenue sub-divisions--- Kokrajhar
and Gossaigaon Sub-divisions. The river Gongia which
is known as Tipkai in the southern part is the natural
boundary of two civil sub-divisions. Gossaigaon town
is the headquarter of Gossaigaon Sub-division.
Geography
:
The
district is situated in a humid sub-tropical climate
that is characteristic of the lower Brahmaputra Valley
of Assam. There is high rainfall and humidity. The
district also has the largest concentration of forest
in the state. The soil in the district is fertile
and suitable for paddy cultivation.
The
water that flows along natural dongs and canals are
the main source of irrigation for the agricultural
fields. Rain water flow down from the hill tracts
of Bhutan and along the foothills and reserve forests
of the district. The Bhutan hills are also the source
of a number of rivers that flow through the district
and act as tributaries of the mighty Brahmaputra that
flows from east to west far from the southern boundary
of Kokrajhar district. The important rivers of the
district that flow from north to south are the Champamati,
the Gaurang, the Tipkai and the Sonkosh. There are
other rivulets like the Bhur and the colourfully named
Laopani. All the rivers and rivulets flowing through
the district have their origin in the Bhutan hills.
The
soil throughout the district is composed of sand and
clay in varying proportion ranging from pure sand
in the riverbed to soft clay in different parts. The
rocks found in the district are all sedimentary. In
the southernmost part of district there are two small
hills that are composed of metamorphic rocks. These
two hills are called the Dholmara N.C. Hills and Nadanggiri
Hills.
|
