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CHAPTER II

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2.1 INTRODUCTION 2.2 STUDY REGION 2.3 PHYSIOGRAPHY 2.4 SOIL 2.5 DRAINAGE 2.6 CLIMATE 2.7 VEGETATION 2.8 REFERENCES CHAPTER-II ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE OF THE STUDY REGION

2.1 INTRODUCTION

Environmental profile of the region incorporates the physical characteristics of the geographical region for instance, geology, geomorphology with relief, slope aspect, drainage, climatic factors such as temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind etc. vegetative cover, flora and fauna and many other concerned spatial and non-spatial things. These factors generally show their influence on the human activities and human occurrence in the particular geographical region. It means that no human activity is free from the influence of the natural elements. It is therefore human settlements which bear an impression of the natural elements in the terms of the size, shape, structure, function, types and patterns of the settlements. Regional diversities in context with the historical and cultural backdrop of the geographical region have also enormous influence over the economical and social development. Topographically, Tahsil is divided in to three broad categories that are hilly areas with comparatively high altitude, pediment or piedmont zone and lowland or plane. The whole tahsil is situated amidst the mountainous part of the Sahyadrian off-shoots, however, the western and south western part of the tahsil is under the most rugged and undulating terrain. , Masai Plateau, Sadale-Madale flat topped hill range, Jyotiba Hill, range are the most rugged hilly terrain of the region. Moreover central part of the tahsil also bears partial undulating hilly topography. Nevertheless the north eastern part of the tahsil assimilated with comparatively plane area of the Wama river basin. The average height of the study area falls into the 500 to 900m above the mean sea level. Generally the whole study region enjoys a moderate type of climate. Besides the mountainous region of the Panhala and Vishalgad where the frequent change in climate takes place. This region experiences very pleasant climate through out the year. In the rainy season it is very heavy rainfall is

17 there, and cool valley breezes volley the wind side of the fort. The overall study area receives average rainfall range between 1300 to 1400mm with maximum and minimum average temperatures of 33°c and 12°c respectively. The drainage system of the region is incorporated main tributaries of the Panchaganga river that is Kasari, Kumbhi and Dhamni rivers with partial catchments of Wama river. The whole region is well drained with all these rivers almost for a whole year. Almost all rivers are perennial and cater good sufficient water to the agriculture and other purposes. However the hilly area of the region suffers the shortfall of the water particularly in the summer season. In the Panhala tahsil about 19, 531, 24 hectares (34.25%) area is under forest cover.

2.2 STUDY REGION Panhala tahsil of the district is very significant region because the most famous historical Panhala fort is located in the region. Moreover the Jyotiba the well acclaimed Hindu shrine is also located in the tahsil. Geographically the most significant feature of the duricrust plateau (Masai) is also situated in the region. The whole region spread about 43 km east-west and north-south stretch is about 36 km. Panhala Tahsil located in which is most important agricultural center in the . Particularly the western Maharashtra is well known after Kolhapur district. From the east direction Panhala tahsil confined with tahsil of Kolhapur district, whereas from south­ eastern direction it is touched with Karveer tahsil. From the southern Radhanagari tahsil is bordered and south-western rim of the tahsil is bounded with Bavada tahsil. From the western direction it is confined with district and from north-western with Shahuwadi tahsil of Kolhapur district. The northern border is of Wama river, dividing Panhala tahsil from the district. Administratively Panhala tahsil is divided into five blocks namely Kodoli, Panhala, Kotholi, Bajarbhogaon, and Kale. Panhala is the headquarter of this Tahsil situated on the top of the Panhala fort.

18 2.3 PHYSIOGRAPHY

The overall physiography and relief of the Kolhapur can be divided into Sahyadrian water divide and the region of dissected residual hills; however, most of the region of Panhala tahsil bears the dissected hilly tract.

In the study region several hill ranges crisscrossed and separated by transitional valleys. Since the region is developed on the Deccan Trap many marked residual land forms are left in this region. The Panhala-Masai- Pavangad range (3127ft) is at the western part of the tahsil. The edges of this long belt is with very steep escarpments. At the right across the saddle is situated the famous Jyotiba hill. In the vicinity of these range there is small relief landforms like Vaghajai range separating the Kumbhi valley from Kasari, the Pal hill and its minor ridges which separate the Kumbhi from the Tulsi river valley. The terraces and step like landforms are common in this region. The cluster of such land forms always allow monsoonal waters to collect and form the innumerable streams drained in the tributaries of the Panchaganga River. Considering the relief of the land the study area can be divided in to three broad physiographic divisions such as zone of high hills, pediment or piedmont zone (foot hills) and river valley or lowlands (Map:2.1). Table: 2.1 Relief Division of Panhala Tahsil. Relief Division Area in (%) 49.38 Zone of High Hills

Pediment/Piedmont 44.69 Zone (Foot Hills) River Valley/ 5.93 lowlands Total 100.00 Source: Based on Ground water survey and development agency, Government of Maharashtra (1972-73)

19 Relief Division of Panhala Tahsil

B Zone of High Hills

H Pedimemt Zone

0 River Valley or Low-land

Figure 2.1 Relief Division of Panhala Tahsil

a) Zone of High Hills According to the groundwater survey, Maharashtra in Panhala tahsil about 49.30 percent areas comprises in the zone of high hills or hilly rugged area. This type of land mostly undulating and highly rugged relief with modest and high hills of the off-shoots of Sahyadri ranges. The Wadi Ratnagiri. Jyotiba, Panhala Fort, Masai Plateau, Waghjai hills are the main high hill ranges. The mesa and buttes are sporadically scattered in the vicinity of these high hill ranges in the whole region. These ranges have an average height of 200 to 300m above local datum that is valley floor. Despite of the high hill ranges the region is marked with remarkable saddles and wind gaps locally they are known as ghats or pass. Some of these ghats used as roads passing through. 'Thus area under study, the major part of the land area is hilly and topographically rugged and receives heavy rainfall. Therefore the settlements emerged in this part are small in size and sparsely located, b) Pediment or Piedmont Zone (Foot Hills) in this zone or category of the physiography moderate topography of slope and flanks of almost all high hills has been taken into consideration. At the eastern side of the study region however, noticed some sporadic hills of moderate or low height approximate 540 to 600m from msl. Most of the southern part of the study region which comprises pediment or piedmont zone of the Panhala, Jyotibe, eastern flank of Masai plateau, come under this region. Some 44.69% area is considered in this division in the study area.

20 PANH ALA TAHSIL Physiographic Divisions

INDEX

Zone of High Hills /Z/// / Piedmont / Foot Hills

River Vaily / Low Lands

Map : 2.1

O'ltASft'ifB KtUrDEK'1. yy\ •SHlVAJi AjlMlVthbOY; KOLHAFUr.„ c) River Valley or Low Lands Most of the area under this category comes towards the north eastern part of the study region. Some 5.93% of area regarded as river valley or low land in the study region. Wama river valley is major zone of this category. Warna River flows from west to east have made an alluvial plain on its southern bank due to their depositional work. In spite of the Wama river basin there are very small area under th4e basin of Dhamani, Kumbhi and Kadari Rivers. Actually southern half of the tahsil is occupied and configuring by the dissected land forms of these river drainage networks.

2.4 SOIL

Soil is much important factor plays resulting role in the determination of the settlement. In this regard while looking into the variation of soil the systematic classification of the soil of Kolhapur district has duly been taken into consideration. On the basis of the physiography the Kolhapur district can be divided into three broad soil zones

(a) The western part, with heavy rainfall is mountainous, woody and is covered with lateratic soils,

(b) The fertile central part, with brownish well-drained soils of neutral reaction,

(c) The dry eastern zone, with precarious rainfall and covered with medium black soil of varying depth.

21 Table: 2.2 Soils of the Kolhapur District. Types of soil Percentage Area

Laterite soil 10.62% Radhanagari, Gaganbavada

Reddish brown soil 32.80% Shahuwadi, Panhala, Radhanagari

Hatkanagale, Panhala, Karveer. Coarse shallow soil 25.60% , Gadhinglaj, Radhanagari. Kagal, Chandgad Black soil (Medium) 19.68% , Kagal, Gadhinglaj, Chandgad. Black soil (Deep) 11.30% Hatkanagale, Kagal, Gadhinglaj

Source: Based on Geological Survey of ,

However, broadly the soils are categorized as lateratic Soils, brown soil and medium and deep black soils (Map:2.2).

Lateratic soils occur mainly in the western hilly tracts of heavy rainfall, especially on the hill tops and in the ridges which are not covered by forest. They are found in the western parts of Karveer, Bhudhargad and Ajra and the whole of Shahuwadi, Panhala, Radhanagari and Bavada talukas. However, the same soil occurs to the southern western part of the Panhala tahsil, where majority of the region comes under high hilly zone which receive heavy rainfall. They are red to brownish-red in color, mostly eroded and shallow with good drainage. The soils are acidic with low phosphoric contents. When terraced, applications of nitrogen and phosphorus are found quite useful and in such cases paddy crop can also be taken from the soil. They vary in color from brown to black, are fairly deep retentive of moisture. Paddy is the main crop of this area.

Brown Soils are found in the talukas of Hatkanangle, Karveer and Radhanagari and parts of the Bhudhargad and Ajra talukas. They are mainly dark brown in colour. Most of the Panhala tahsil bears this redish brown colour soil. They are rich and fertile with excellent granular structure, almost neutral in reaction and well supplied with calcium.

22 KOLHAPUR DISTRICT SOILS MAP

Laterite Soil Reddish Brown Soil Coarse Shallow Soil Medium Black Soil Deep Black Soil Part of Karnataka

Source: S.B. Sangale

Map : 2.2 These soils respond well to the application of fertilizers. As this zone receives a guaranteed rainfall of 40-50inches. Rice, jowar, and groundnut are grown on these soils in kharif season. Sugarcane and vegetables are taken wherever irrigation facilities are available.

Medium and Deep Black Soils are found in the district particularly in the tahsils of Shirol, Hatkanangle, Karveer, Kagal and Gadhinglaj. However, almost all river vallies bearing medium and deep sediments in the fonn of black soil. The patches of the soils derived from depth in the river valleys where the soils are deep. Medium deep soils are grey in color with good structure. The deeper soils are blacker in color. The soils are quite fertile and good crops of kharif jowar and groundnut are obtained. They are quite rich in phosphorus contents and the crops respond well to the application of nitrogen to these soils.

2.5 DRAINAGE The major river valley in the tahsil is , apart from this the Kasari, Kumbhi and Dhamani are the most significant river basin of the region. The Wama River has its catchments from the area of the district. The Kadvi from the southern area which takes its source waters near . This river takes two tributaries, the Shali and the Ambardi. Warana River is one of the most important tributaries of the river Krishna (Map: 2.3). The length of the river Warana is 130 km but it traverses 13.6 km only in Panhala Tahsil and then enters into the Hatkanangale Tahsil. The river Warana confines a natural boundary of Panhala Tahsil from the north direction separating . Warana River has contributed fine fertile sediment to the northern part of the tahsil in the form of the flood plain and the sediment valley. In all terms this area of the tahsil has become most fertile so most populous in the fonn of compact and centralized settlements. The Kasari and Kumbhi are the major tributaries of the Panchaganga river. Kasari rises near the village of Gajapur and flows south-east upto Dhangarwadi in the Kolhapur district. The stream is wide in its course so

23 receives more waters from a large source region lying between watersheds of the Vishalgad range in the north and the Waghajai in the south. Just above Bhogaon the river receives another important southern tributary called Mangari; below Bhogaon it develops into a wide alluvial plain in which the river has developed meanders. This is the longest river in the Panhala tahsil covers 35.2 km of the length from west to east. This river has formed comparatively plain elongated narrow strip of the land which has significant numbers of settlements. The Kumbhi rises near Bavda and flows north-eastwards for about fifteen miles upto Kirwai it receives its important tributary Dhamani near Chaugalewadi.altogather Dhamani covers 12.9km in the tahsil. The stream has fonned alluvium in its course. However, kumbhi river runs very short distance in the tahsil that is only 10.1km. Apart from the river drainage network in the tahsil there are considerable number of the natural tanks, weirs and lakes. By virtue of the source region of the most of the rivers provide ideal site for the K.T. Weirs i.e. that is Kolhapur Type weirs. It is therefore, these tanks and weirs which accumulate the water and make it available in the summer season for the agriculture. Table: 2.3 Major rivers in Panhala Tahsil.

Name of River Length in Km Warana 13.6 Kasari 35.2 Kumbhi 10.1 Dhamni 12.9 Source: Based on the toposheets of SOI

24 Map : 2.3 Major Rivers in Panhala Tahsil

Length in km in Tahsil

Figure 2.2 Major Rivers in Panhala Tahsil

2.6 CLIMATE The climate of the region is of temperate type and very effective for the agriculture. By virtue of the mountainous region western part of the region is always cooler than that of the eastern part which is rather hot during April and May. The climatic regime through out the whole year may be divided into three periods as follows: 1. Hot weather period from March to May, 2. Rainy period from June to October, 3. Cold weather period from November to February. 1. Hot Weather Period (March to May): Three months of hot weather period experience the sudden rise in temperature in the region. In the month of March there is acute beginning in the rise of temperature which goes to the maximum in April. April is the hottest month of the year, with a mean maximum temperature of 33.5 °C. The corresponding figures for March and May are 31.4 °C and 30 °C respectively. However the spatial temperature is varied according to the region i.e. at the same time mountainous region of the Panhala fort experiencing the low temperature. The minimum temperatures in these

25 months are 17.9 °C in month of March and in the month of April it goes down to the 21.3°C, whereas it is of 21.4°C in the month of May. In this season however, no rainfall is experienced in the form of pre monsoon shower with some 5mm of rainfall. The mean relative humidity in the morning this period is 65 per cent and 35 to 40 per cent in the evening. This is again different according to the altitude of the region. In Panhala fort and Masai plateau area it is some what less. Low values of humidity of the order of 15 to 20 per cent occur in these months in the afternoon. The temperature is high during the day but the evenings are cooled by sea-breezes. During this period thunder storms are very common because of the sudden variation in the temperature. The direction of the wind in this season is generally from the west to the east direction, however, since majority of the region is under the high hill region it is therefore land forms are influencing the local direction of the winds. More over there are the valley and mountain breezes bring the variation into the direction of the wind. Velocity of the wind is comparatively high caused by the storms. 2. Wet Weather Period. (June to October): Generally the normal period of the imposing south-west monsoon in the whole district is the first week of June. However there are frequent pre monsoon showers experiences by the region which make a rapid fall of the temperature. The months of July and August are however very wet in the sense of continuous rainfall. The mean daily maximum temperature for July and August is 24.9 °C and 25.2 °C respectively. Minimum temperatures for the same months are 20.3°C and 20.4°C. From the September temperature begin to rise. This season is core of the monsoon in which maximum rainfall received by the region is about 1165.6mm with the sixty eight rainy days aggregate. In the month of June about 504.4mm rainfalls received in twenty-two rainy days (Map: 2.4). The moisture in the atmosphere in this season is comparatively high and the air remains saturated for several days. The mean relative humidity for

26 Map : 2.4 June to September is 87 per cent in the morning and 77 per cent in the evening. The most of the winds flow from the west, however, direction of winds during this period is little bit influenced by the wet season. 3. Winter (November to February): In the winter season the day temperature remains higher than in the monsoon, however the mean minimum temperature is the lowest and it reaches to 12.7 °C in the month of December. In the same month maximum temperature reaches to 28.4 during the sunny day. Rainfall in this period is about 213mm distributed in 110mm with seven days in month of November. The mean relative humidity for the whole region is in this season is 63 per cent in the morning and 33 per cent in the evening. Table 2.4: Monthly Maximum and Minimum Temperature at Panhala Tahsil Maximum Mean Range Month Minimum °C °C °C °C January 29.1 14.4 21.75 14.7 February 29.4 15.5 22.45 13.9 March 31.4 17.9 24.65 13.5 April 33.5 21.3 27.40 12.2 May 31.0 21.4 26.20 9.6 June 26.6 22.6 24.66 4.0 July 24.9 20.3 22.60 4.6 August 25.2 20.4 22.80 4.8 September 27.8 20.1 23.95 7.7 October 29.0 20.9 24.95 8.1 November 29.3 16.3 22.80 13.0 December 28.4 12.7 20.55 15.7 Year 28.4 18.65 23.72 10.15 Source: Based on Panhala Municipality Metrological Department. Government of Maharashtra (1960); Maharashtra state Gazetteer, Kolhapur district.

27 Monthly Minimum & Maximum Temperature Panhala Tahsil ^

4 O in

O oo *

P O ro

s. — O Deg.Celcius

Temperature D

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Months

Figure 2.3 Monthly Minimum and Maximum Temperature

Table: 2.5 Normal Rainfalls at Panhala Tahsil (2002) Rainfall(in Rainy Days Month mm)

January - -

February - -

March - - April 5 1

May -- June 504.4 22 July 166.2 23 August 495 23 September 71 6 October no 7 November 32 1

December - - Source: District statistical Abstract. (2002-2003)

28 Normal Rainfall in Panhala Tahsil

Months

Figure: 2.4 Normal Rainfall in Panhala Tahsil

2.7 VEGETATION According to the district census hand book of the Kolhapur 1991, Panhala tahsil has covered as much as 11038.77 hectares of land under forest. On the other hand 19531.04 hectares land shown by the forest department in 2006. Although the tahsil is occupied with some thick forest patches however, only firewood, timber and hirda are the vegetative types which ubiquitously grown in the forests of tahsil. Most of the area is near Panhala fort where fruits of hirda collected at marketable quantity, however, these are purchased by the local pharmaceutical traders for extraction of tanin. Besides some minor forest produces such as honey, wax, leaves of tembhumi, shikekai etc. also be collected and marketed in local.

29 Table:2.6 Forests of Panhala Tahsil. (2006) Type of Forest Area in Area (%) hectares Protected forest 4044.21 20.70 Unclassified forest 411.97 2.11 Private forest 46.32 0.24 Other forest 15028.54 16.95 Total 19531.04 100

Source: Based on Panhala Forest Department,

Forests of Panhala Tahsil

S Protected forest 16,95 Q Unclassified forest 20.7 U Private forest B Other forest 1

Figure 2.5 Forests of Panhala Tahsil

30 2.8 REFERENCES:

1. Chaudhari, S.R. (1986): 'Khandesh: a Study in Rural Settlement Geography," unpublished Ph.D. thesis submitted to the University of Pune. 2. Chisolm, M. (1962): 'Rural Settlements and Landuse’, London. 3. Settlements’, Oxford University, Press, New York. 4. Finch, V.C. and Treewartha, G.T. (1949): ‘Elements of Geography’, Me Graw Hill Book Company, New York. 5. Hudson, F.S. (1976): Geography of Settlements’, Macdonald and Evans Ltd. Estovr. 6. Kumbhar, A. P. (1997): 'Rural Habitat (A study of Rural Settlement in Nira Valley)’, Sumeroo Prakashan, TilaknagarDombivli (East) Thane. 7. Mandal, R.B., (1979): introduction to Rural Settlement,’ Concept Publishing Company, New Delhi. 8. Mishra, R.P. and Sundaram, K. V. (1979): ‘Rural Area Development’ Sterling Publication, New Delhi. 9. Money, D.C.(1968): introduction to Human Geography’, University Tutorial Press, London. 10. Sharma, R.C. (1972): ‘Settlement Geography of Indian Desert’, Kumar Bros. Publishing, New Delhi. 11. Singh, R.L. (1961): ‘Meaning, Objective and Scope of Settlement Geography’. NGJI, Vol-3, Part-2. 12. Singh, R.Y. (1994): ‘Geography of settlement’ Rawat Publication, New Delhi,

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