Location

Chandrapur district is located in the eastern edge of Maharashtra in Nagpur division and forms the eastern part of 'Vidharbha' region. Is located between 19.30’ N to 20.45’N Latitude and 78.46’E longitude. It is the easternmost district of the state of Maharashtra. . The district is bounded by Nagpur , Bhandara and Wardha on the northern side. Yavatmal on the western side. Gadchiroli on the extern side and Adilibad district of the Andhra Pradesh on the southern side. Physiographic ally, the district is situated in the Wainganga and Wardha river basin. The eastern and western boundaries of the district are well defined by the river Waingabga and Wardha, the tributaries of Godavari. Chandrapur districts occupies an area of 11,443 sq. Km. which constitutes 3.72 percent of the total area of the state and had population of 1,771,994. Geographically Maharashtra is located 16.40 N to 22.10 N Latitude and 72.60 E to 80.9 E Longitude.

Climate

Owing to the geographical location and physical features, the climate of the district can be classified as tropical hot climate with high range of temperature through out of year. Primarily there are two prominent seasons in the district - the very hot summer and moderate winter. the summer months are very hot and prolonged while winter is short and mild. The monsoon season starts immediately after summer till late September. The southwest monsoon bring lot of rainfall during rainy season and there is no draught prone area in the district. 

The temperature starts decreasing from the month of October. December is  the coldest month. mean maximum temperature during December is 28.2º  and mean minimum is 11.6º The southern part is comparatively warmer then the north. which ranges between 29.6º to 14.6º. The lowest recorded temperature is in the north is 3º and 8º in the south. The daily mean temperature starts rising from the month of February and may is the peak summer month when mean maximum temperature goes up to 43º and minimum temperature is 28º to 29º.    In severe heat condition temperature rises up to 46º. However temperature starts reducing after May due to onset of monsoon, which last from June To September when it is hot and humid.

The average annual rainfall is about 1420 mm. The eastern part receives more rainfall then west. Average no of rainy days is 60 to 65 through out the district. The relative humidity is very high during monsoon season, which exceeds 70%, but after monsoon season it falls down rapidly and in summer it is only 20%.

    The prominent wind direction is from south to north. In summer the wind direction is from east to and south and monsoon from south to east. During winter, the wind direction changes from north to east. Frequently is characterized by the blowing of wild and violent winds heralding the approach  of hot season which last till middle of June.

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RAINFALL

The district receives it’s rainfall (about 90%) from the south west monsoon from June to September. The avarage annual rainfall is about 1200 mm. The rainfall generally increases as one goes from the west to the east.

Table below  shows rainfall data calculated for the period of -15-years.

The one day high rainfall of 448 mm on 14.8.86 resulted in very high and sudden floods in river Irai and its tributaries. Such flash floods do occur some times due to concentrated rainfall in catchments area of river Irai and release of excess water from Irai dam by the authorities.

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SALIENT FEATURES AND LAND USE PATTERN

 Chandrapur district can be divided into two regions on the basis of district physiographic features.

1.  The plain and the fertile region lying in river valleys of the Wardha, the Penganga and  the Wainganga rivers - The  widely spread  and flat terrain exhibits mostly rolling topography with residual knolls of the hills in the southern portion while in the   northern portion that is in Brahmapuri tahsil, fairly wide flood and alluvial plains covered with fertile loams are observed. The flat terrain of Chandrapur district on the whole lies generally between 250 m (MSL) . In the Penganga valley, flat terrain covers very little area in the south western portion of the district. The area occupied by the Penganga basin in the south-western parts of the district in Rajura and Chandur tahsils exhibits mostly hilly topography. The hils are known as Gadchandur and Manikgarh  hills the altitude in general rises to 500m above MSL.

2.  The upland hilly region - The upland hilly region lies between the Wardha and the Wainganga rivers comprising parts of Warora, Chandrapur and mojor part of Brahmapuri tahsils. It has sandy soil. The mills in Wardha, Brahmapuri and Brahmapuri district are low altitude hills called ‘Chimur-Perjagarh-Mul hills’. The altitude of these hills is on average 300 m. above MSL.

LAND USE PATTERN

Soil

Soil is the most important feature of physiography the formation of which largely depends upon the topography rock types and drainge. The cropping pattern  in the are is  governed by the thickness of soil mantle, its texture and constancy. The soils of Chandrapur district are of various types. Each type covering a well-defined tract which displays cropping pattern of totally different level. The soils occurring in the Wardha and the Wainganga valleys are generally most fertile.

The  soil of the district is well defined and conductive for growing crops of various kinds. The most fertile soils are found in the Wardha district and Wainganga  valleys. The numerous varieties of soils known by many local names they are grouped under the following representative classes.

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The soil conditions along Wardha-Painganga valleys are rich with black regur loams and clay loams along the river bed. These soils locally known as kali soils, are very productive and suitable for rabi crops due to high moisture retention capacity. However water loggng is very common during monsoon and is therefore not suitable  for khariff crops.

Vegetation

The vegetation of the district is characterized as southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest where teak is the dominant species. other associated species are Ain, Bamboo, Bijja, Dhada,  Haldu, Semal, Tendu etc. depending upon the physiographic features. Jamun, Mango, Arjun are found in moist area. The slopes of the hills have poor and low density vegetation. The plains of the tract have luxuriant forest. The district had about 3651 sq. km. forest cover in 1998-99, which accounted for 33.44% of the total geographical area of the district.  However according to forest Dept. the district has an area 5005 sq. km under forest which works out to 46.80 % against  state averages 17.45%.

Agricultural and Crop Pattern in the District

 Information regarding main agricultural crops, their cropping period and market area is furnish below : 

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Economic, Occupational, Social and Educational Profile of the Population

Physical feature and land use pattern of the district indicate that agriculture is the main activity in the district. The total agriculture area is 4810 Sq. kms. i.e. 46.05 % of the total area of the district.

Out of the total area, sown area is 5,18196 hectors barren and cultivable land 76004 HRS. and culturable waste land is 230 sq.kms.

Paddy, Cotton, Jwar and Soybean are the main crops in the district.34.33 % of the total area I under forest cover

The percentage of urban & rural population is 28.04 % & 71.96 % respecticvely. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes population accounts for 16.78 % and 19.70 % respectively.

The total area under industrial use accounts for 32.34 sq.km. 

There are 7 Urban centres and 13 major rural centres. 6.26  % of the population lives in the slums and 13.36 % of the population is below poverty line.

Total work-force in 4 existing industrial estates is just 2071 but there are major industrial like coal mines. Thermal power station, Cement Factories, Paper mill etc. which are situated outside the industrial area where work force is about 30,000. There is influx of workers from other states particularly in Coal Mines. Seasonal migration is temporary phenomenan lasting for two-three months. The workers mostly come from Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Bihar.

There are two historical centres and 16 religious centres where there is influx of tourists in particular season.

The overall literacy percent age of the  district is 59.41 %

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