` SURVEY DOCUMENT STUDY ON THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM, MINERAL POTENTIAL AND FEASIBILITY OF MINING IN RIVER/ STREAM BEDS OF DISTRICT KANGRA, HIMACHAL PRADESH. Prepared By: Atul Kumar Sharma. Asstt. Geologist. Geological Wing” Directorate of Industries Udyog Bhawan, Bemloe, Shimla. “ STUDY ON THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM, MINERAL POTENTIAL AND FEASIBILITY OF MINING IN RIVER/ STREAM BEDS OF DISTRICT KANGRA, HIMACHAL PRADESH. 1) INTRODUCTION: In pursuance of point 9.2 (Strategy 2) of “River/Stream Bed Mining Policy Guidelines for the State of Himachal Pradesh, 2004” was framed and notiofied vide notification No.- Ind-II (E)2-1/2001 dated 28.2.2004 and subsequently new mineral policy 2013 has been framed. Now the Minstry of Environemnt, Forest and Climate Change, Govt. of India vide notifications dated 15.1.2016, caluse 7(iii) pertains to preparation of Distt Survey report for sand mining or riverbed mining and mining of other minor minerals for regulation and control of mining operation, a survey document of existing River/Stream bed mining in each district is to be undertaken. In the said policy guidelines, it was provided that District level river/stream bed mining action plan shall be based on a survey document of the existing river/stream bed mining in each district and also to assess its direct and indirect benefits and identification of the potential threats to the individual rivers/streams in the State. This survey shall contain:- a) District wise detail of Rivers/Streams/Khallas; and b) District wise details of existing mining leases/ contracts in river/stream/khalla beds Based on this survey, the action plan shall divide the rivers/stream of the State into the following two categories;- a) Rivers/ Streams or the River/Stream sections selected for extraction of minor minerals b) Rivers/ Streams or the River/Stream sections prohibited for extraction of minor minerals. Based on the action plan as mentioned above, mining leases/ contracts shall be granted in accordance to the Himachal Pradesh Minor Minerals (Concession) and Minerals (Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation and Storage) Rules, 2015 and observing the Policy Guidlines. Accordingly, the survey report of the river beds/ parts of river beds of District Kangra has been prepared.The rivers/streams were studied based on the following parameters excluding the hill slope mining. a) Geomorphological studies: i) Place of origin ii) Catchment area iii) General profile of river stream iv) Annual deposition factor v) Replenishment vi) Total potential of minor minerals in the river bed. b) Geological Studies: i) Lithology of catchment area ii) Tectonics and structural behaviour of rocks. c) Climatic parameters: I) Intensity of rainfall. II) Climate zone. III) Temperature variation. IV) 2 2) BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DISTRICT: Kangra district derives its name from Kangra town which was called Nagar kot in the ancient times. Kangra present originally was a part of the ancient Trigartha (Jullundur) which comprises of the area lying between the river "Shatadroo" (probably Sutlej) and Ravi. A tract of land to the east of Sutlej which probably is the area of Sirhind in Punjab also formed a part of Trigratha. Trigratha had two provinces. One in the plains with headquarters at Jullundur and other in the hills with headquarter at Nagarkot (the present Kangra). The present Kangra district came in to existence on the 1st, September 1972 consequent upon the reorganization of districts by the Government of Himachal Pradesh. It was the largest district of the composite Panjab in terms of area, till it was transferred to H.P. on the 1st November 1966. 3) PHYSIOGRAPHY: 3.1 General The district lies between 30° 22' 40" to 33° 12' 40" North Latitude and 75° 45' 55" to 79° 04' 20" East Longitude. East longitudes and is located in the Western part of Himachal Pradesh and is bounded in the North by Chamba district, on the North-East by Lahaul and Spiti district on the East by Kullu district, on the South by Mandi district and on the West by Panjab state. The district has a geographical area of 5,739 Sq Km, which constitutes 10.31 per cent of geographical area of the State. The Kangra district is located on the 19 Survey of India Toposheets (1:50,000) as given below in the figure 1. Figure 1. Figure 1: Showing the location of Kangra District with respect to the Survey of India Topopsheets, on the scale 1:50000. 3 Total Population As Per 2001 census. 13,39,030 Male Population 6,61,254 Female Population 6,77,776 Total Literates 940,505 Male Literacy 500,383 87.1 % Female Literacy 440,122 73.0 % Geographical Area 5739 Sq. km. (As per village paper 577562 Hect as on 2005- 06) Forest Area 2367 Sq. km. Cultivated Area 1175 Sq. km. Unusable Area 2197 Sq. km. Range Altitude 427 to 6401mtrs. 1220 mtr. (Head Quarter) Longitude 75 Degree 35' to 77 degree 75 Deg 35' 34''- 77 Deg. 4' ( E ) 04'46'' (East) Latitude 31 Degree 41' to 32 Degree 31Deg.45'0''-32 28' ( N ) Deg.28'05''(North) Major Rivers Beas River A Perennial river Climate Rainy Season From July to September Temp. Approx. 32 degree C Winter October to February Temp. Approx. 20-30 degree C People & Culture Major Religions Hindus, Sikhs and a number of Muslims also. Languages Spoken Pahari(Kangri), Punjabi, Hindi Culture Traditional and Pahari Traditions Religious Art Forms Kangra paintings and Art Gallery of Shobha Singh Administrative Setup No. of Sub-Divisions 8 No. of Tehsils 16 No. of Sub-Tehsils 4 Development Blocks 15 Panchayats 760 Census Town 1 (Mant Khas) As per Census 2001 The district has varying altitude ranging from 427 to 6401m above mean sea level, with some plain areas touching Gurdaspur district of Punjab in the West and Una district of H.P. in the South. In the East it touches Mandi district, in North with Kullu and Chamba. The district has considerable diversity in its soils, physiography and land use pattern. On the basis of these, the district can be further divided into 4 five-sub horizons i.e. Pir Panjal, Dhauladhar, Kangra Siwalik, Kangra Valley and Beas Basin. The monsoon rains are heavy and well distributed and 70 per cent of the total annual rainfall is received from July- September. The high hills of Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal receive heavy snow in winter. Summers are hot in low hill valley areas but mild in other hilly areas. From administrative point of view the district Kangra has been divided into eight sub- Divisions viz., Dharamsala, Palampur, Baijnath, Kangra, Nurpur, Jawali, Dehra and Jaisinghpur; and from development point of view the district stands divided in fifteen developmental blocks, viz. Baijnath, Bhawarna, Lambagaon, Panchrukhi, Kangra, Nagrota Bagwan, Rait, Dehra, Pragpur, Nagrota Surian, Nurpur, Indora, Fatehpur and Sulah at Bhedoo Mahadev. The district with respect to revenue control has been divided into sixteen Tehsils and four sub-Tehsils. There are 760 Gram Panchayats, 3869 villages and eight towns, viz. Kangra, Nagrota Bagwan, Nurpur, Dharamsala, Palampur, Dehragopipur, Jwalamukhi and Yol. The area between Beas River which forms the Southern boundary of the district and Chakki streams at the South-West are extensively cultivated. 3.2 Relief of Kangra District: Figure 2: 5 3.3 Climate: The climate in the district unfolds four broad seasons. The winter generally spreads over from December to Feb. The period from March to June is summer. Hot and rainy season generally extends from July to September. October and November exhibit autumn. While the places at high altitudes are covered with deep snow during the winter month, the lower areas get plentiful of rains. The temperature during the winter months even in the lower areas is too cold because of the lashing cold breeze of the mountain ranges of Dhauladhar and Hathi dhar. The places lying at higher are too wet in the rainy season and Dharamshala,the headquarters of the District, receives plentiful rains. During the summer months in the valleys and southern parts of the district, the days are extremely hot and sultry. During the monsoon period, the landscape becomes fresh and green and the small water channeles in the beds of hill streams begin to swell which had dried up in the summer. 4) Fauna & Flora 4.1 Fauna The district is rich in animals and birds which include some of the rare species. The animals and birds that are found in the district are- (1) Ghoral, (2) Kakar, (3) Kastura, (4) Aimu, (5) Ibex, (6) Blue mountain sheep, (7) Thar, (8) Black Bear, (9) Brown Bear, (10) Panther or Leopard, (11) Snow Leopard, (12) Wild Boar, (13) Spotted Deer of Chital, (14) Samber, (15) Porcupine, (16) Flying squirrel (17) Himalyan Pine Martin etc. Apart from the important game animals described above animals like Jackal, Monkey, Langoor, Fox etc. are also met within the area. There is a variety of birds in the district like Monal pheasant, Snow cock, Western horned tragopan, Juguriam, Pea-cock, Ring dove, Spotted dove, shikara, parrot, tawny eagle, green pigeon, pigeon, gritton vulture, tits, nut cracker, Pies, Wood peaker, Crow, Himalyan fly catcher, etc. which are found in the tract of this district. 4.2 Flora This district is rich in flora. The following various species of plants and forest trees are generally found in Kangra district. Table-1: Vernacular Name Botanical Name Bil Aegle marmelos Neem Azadirachta indica Tun Cedrela toone Aam(cultivated) Mangifera indica Deodar Mimosa rubicaulis Kikar Acacia arbaica Khair Acacia catech Behera Terminalia belerica Harrer Terminalia chebula 6 Kinu Diospyross fomentosa Toot(cultivated) Morus alba Palakh Ficus rumphii Pipal(cultivated) Ficus religisa Rumbal Ficus glomerata Khor, Akhrot Juglans regia 5) Agriculture: Agriculture is the main occupation of the people in the District, having different types of soil and agro-climate conditions which are quite suitable for the growing of various types of cereals, vegetables, fruits and other crops.