District Profile at a Glance

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: BARPETA ZILLA PARISHAD: BARPETA.

PANCHAYAT & RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT: GOVT. OF ASSAM

District Profile at a Glance

1. Geographical Location - Barpeta district with its headquarter at Barpeta town was created and started functioning from 1st July'1983. The district is spread within 26°45' to 26°49' North latitude and 90°45' to 90°15' East latitude with a total geographical area of 324500 Ha. The District is surrounded by the Bhutan Hills and Bagsa District in the North, Nalbari District in the East, Kamrup and Goalpara district in the South and Bongaigaon and Chirang District in the west.

2. Administrative set up - The Administrative set up of the district is mentioned below.

a) Sub-division :- There are two sub divisions in the District one is Barpeta Sadar Sub Division and other is outlying Bajali Civil Sub Division.

b) Revenue Circles:- There are 9 Nos. of Revenue Circles in the district viz, Barpeta, Baghbar, Sarthebari, Barnagar, Kalgachia, Bajali, Sarupeta, Chenga and Jalah.

c) Development Block:- There are 11 nos. of development block in the District viz. Barpeta, Chenga, Paka Betbari, Gfumafulbari, Sarukhetri, Gobardhana, Rupshi, Chakchaka, Bhawanipur, Mandia and Bajali.

d) Police Stations:- There are 7 nos. of Police Station in the District viz, Barpeta, Sarthebari, Barpeta Road, Sorbhog, Tarabari, Baghbar and Patacharkuchi.

e) Mouza:- there are 26 nos. of Mouza in the district viz Barpeta, Betbari, Nagaon, Chenga, Ghilazari Jania, Mandia, Bagribari, Gobardhana, Kharija Bijni, Howly, Titapani, Damka Chaka Bausi, Rupshi, Baghbar, Paka, Sarukhetri, Pub Bajali, Sariha, Uttar Bajali, Chapaguri, Koklabari, Manikpur, Bhabanipur, Hathinapur and Bijni.

f) Gaon Panchayat:- There are 129 nos. of Gaon Panchayat in the district.

3. Demography - As per 2001 Census the present population of the district is 16,42,420 out of which male is 8,46,106 and female is 7,96,314. The sex ratio is 941 per 1000 male. The density of population is 506 per sq-KM. As per 2001 census the scheduled caste and scheduled tribes population of the district is 93861 and 123266 respectively consisting 5.71% and 7.5% of the total population of the district respectively.

4. Physical feature -The Barpeta District is situated at the plains of Brahmaputra valley and northern part of the District is covered by hilly area. In the Southern and Western side of the district, Char areas are created by Brahmaputra and by Beki rivers, which comprises a major part of the district.

5. Soil - The soil of Barpeta district may be classified as Sandy, Sandy loam and forest soil.

6. Climate & Rainfall - Barpeta district enjoys tropical monsoon climate having two distinct seasons - Summer and Winter. The Summer season from March to May is followed by the monsoon from June to September. The retreating monsoon occurs from October to November. The winter season from December to February is characterized by average temperatures remaining generally above 12 to 8 degree Celsius. The average annual rainfall ranges from 360 to 400 cm.

7. Flora and Fauna - The District is rich in flora and fauna. Manas National park, a World Heritage Site, with a prominent Tiger project situated at a distance of 52 KM towards north west from Barpeta Town is ornamented with rare and diversified wildlife. There are 543 species of plants, 60 species of mammals, 312 species of birds, 42 species of reptiles, 7 species of amphibian, 54 species of fishes and 100 spices of insects in the park.

8. Literacy - As per 2001 census, total literate persons of the district are 7,69,225. Out of which 4,56,870 are male and 3,12,355 are female. The rate of literacy of male and female are 65.95% and 57.35% respectively.

9. Socio economic condition - The district of Barpeta is one of the leading agriculture district of Assam. Although the total gross copped area in Barpeta District is 3,10,000 hectares, the net cropped area is only 1,76,900 hectares. The cropping intensity is 175% and integrated area is 45192 hectares. The district has 1,86,205 nos. farm families out of which, 19798 nos. are big farm families, 6543 nos. are marginal farm families, 78582 nos. are small farm families and 22394 nos. are landless families. The main crops grown in the district are paddy, wheat, mustard oil, jute, potato, pulses, fruits, vegetables etc. The land distribution for cropping is as stated below.


i.Paddy - 190875 hectares
ii.Oil seed	 - 29435 hectares
iii.Pulses		 - 13238 hectares
iv.Fruits		 - 8335 hectares
v.Vegetables		 - 27706 hectares
vi.Wheat			 - 14575 hectares
vii.Potato			 - 9850 hectares
viii.Jute			 - 7840 hectares

The District has attained a remarkable position in production of vegetables of different varieties under Rabi crops. Agriculture being the main occupation of inhabitants of the Char Areas, a large nos. of population of char areas is engaged in agricultural activities. Though there are 6 nos. of Urban areas in the District but these are small from the point of view of area coverage. The size of population in these urban areas has been formed from the migration of people from nearby localities in search of livelihood. No major industries in public or private sector in the urban areas has come up due to lack of infrastructure facilities and basic amenities, but there are some small scale industries like bell/brass metal at Sarthebari town, besides some brick kilns in scattered areas in private sector contributing to the State economy to some extent.

10. Resource Inventory-

i) Forest -There is a reserved forest at Daodhara at a distance of 60 KM towards North from Barpeta town covering an area of 74561 hect. and Manas National Park covering an area of 2837 sq-KM area at a distance of 52 KM North West of the District Head Quarter.

ii) Rivers - The mighty river Brahmaputra flows from east to west across the Southern most border of the District. The tributaries of river Brahmaputra, Beki, Manas, Nakhanda, Chowalkhowa, Pahumara, Palla, Kaldia etc. flows across the district.

iii) Minerals - Occurrence of lime stone in the lower parts of Bhutan Hills was reported in 1871, but no further explorations in the regard has been made. History tells that gold particles were found in the sand beds of the Brahmaputra and the Manas river.

Infrastructure-

1) Roads - The main route of PWD roads are as stated below,

Route	Distance
a) Barpeta Daulasal Rampur road	31 KM
b) Barpeta Chenga Bahari	23 KM
c) Barpeta Nagaon Sarthebari	27 KM
d) Tihu-Patacharkuchi Simlaguri (NH-31)	67 KM

7 Nos. of existing PWD roads have been improved under MPNA schemes during the year 2005-06 which are as below:

a) Patacharkuchi Anchali road	5 KM
b) Bilashipara Bazar to Chalikanda Bazar	5 KM
c) Sorbhog Odalguri Road	5 KM
d) Palhazi Patbaushi road	5 KM
e) Kalgachia to Moinbari road	5 KM
f) Barpeta Baghbar Road	5 KM
g) Chenga Bahari Road	5 KM

2) Railway- Length of Railway in the district is 47 KM and there are 6 nos. of Railway Station in the district viz. Sorbhog, Barpeta road, Guwagacha, Sarupeta, Pathsala and Niz Sariha.

3) Telecommunication-There are 2(two) Sub Divisional level Office of Telecommunication in the District. One at Barpeta town and other at Barpeta Road town.

4) Credit facilities- Credit facilities are taken up through different Bank branches. There are 65 nos. of different nationalized and regional rural bank branches in the District.

5) Educational Institutions- Educational Institutions of the District are as below,

a) Primary Schools	-1841 nos.
b) M.E Schools	- 225 Nos.
c) M.V Schools	- 40 nos.
d) M.E Madrassa	- 131 nos.
e) High Schools	- 160- nos.
f) Higher Secondary School	- 41 nos.
g) Government aided College	- 18 nos.
h) Law College	- 1 no
i) I.T.I.	- 1 no

6) Hospital and Health Centres- Details of Hospitals and Health Centers of the District are as below:-

a) Civil Hospital	-1 No.
b) PHC	- 51 Nos.
c) CHC	- 9 Nos.
d) Sub Centre	- 264 Nos.
f) Private Nursing Home-	- 5 Nos.

7) NGOs, Self Help Group etc.- A number of NGOs and SHGs in the District are taking active part in the field of Agriculture, Fishery, Health and Education. The Al-Amin Charitable Trust Fund located at Kalgachia is one of the reputed NGO involved in the Educational sector. Barpeta District Fish Seed Producers Association at Dabaliapara is a registered society formed with the objective of production of fish seedling on large-scale basis. This society has taken active part for marketing and transportation of fish seed and edible fish to various fish market like Guwahati, Mangaldoi, Dhekiajuli, North Lakhimpur etc. Besides them, many other reputed NGOs have been taking active part in various other programmes across the district.

Cadastral Map of Barpeta District