Chapter - 1 The Study Area INTRODUCTION GENERAL INFORMATION OF THE STUDY AREA : Nashik District lying between 19° 35' and 20° 52' north latitude and 73° 16' and 74° 56' east latitude, with an area of 15,582.0 km^ (6,015 sq.miles) has a population of 49,93,796 with 18 towns and 792 inhabited villages and 1136 uninhibited villages as per the sensus of 2001. Rhomboidal in shape with the longer diagonal about 170 km. From south west to north east and an extreme breadth of about 170 km. From north to south, Nasik is bounded on the north west by the Dangs and Surat district of Gujrath state, on the north by the Dhulia district, on the east by Jalgaon and Aurangabad districts, on the south by Ahmednagar district and towards the south west by Thana district (Map 1). The district derives its name from that of its headquarters town of Nasik, for the origin of which two interpretations are given. The town is sited on the nine peaks or NAVASHIKHARA and hence its name. The other relates to incident in the Ramayana, where at this place Laxamana is said to have cut off the nose (NASIKA) of Shurpanakha. Nasik is situated on the bank of the rivers and hills. Anjaneri hill is a fine mass of trap rock, with lofty upper and lower scraps, each resting on wild and well wooded plateau. From Anjeneri hill there is a spur extending southwards for about 3 km. From which three branches spurs resembling a trishul, which extends beyond the Dama river and its headwater streams are to be found three ranges radiating in irregular curves from the Saihyadri bordering another river Vaitarna. Near the end of the northen one of these contains Kavanai or the hill of Kamakshidevi whose temple is on the top. This was once the Peshwa's revenue officer of the circle. The river Dama flows through irregular group of hills, main being the Mhordan hill (1,216 meters), in the long narrow ridge in the north- northeast to south -southeast direction. The range that stretches eastwards from the Sahydris, a little north of Alang hill fort (which itself is just outside the district) on the southern boundary of the district is on the whole the most rocky and precipitous in the district. The highest, Kalsubai, reach an elevation of about 5,400 and many of the other peaks are between 4,700 and 5,000 feet high. The best known, as well as the largest, is Patta. Though its base lies within Nasik limits, its summit is in Ahmednagar district. North of Kalsubai a stupendous precipice overhangs the pass between Igatpuri in Akola. These ranges are bare of trees, except in valleys. The other branch is more a step than a ridge. They flow in the direction the course of Darna river, from west to east, and sinks into the plain before reaching the Godavari, some five km to the north-east of Sinnar town. RIVERS FROM NASIK : The Nasik district is drained by two chief rivers Gima and Godavari and their tributaries, the Vaitama, as well as its tributary the Bhima river, must have been originally rising in the step scrap slope of the Sahydris, in the neighbourhood of Tal pass. The crest line of the Sahydris must have formed the main watershed between Vaitarna and Dama river system initially. The Alvand river as well as the present headstream of the Vaitama in the Desh is the main source water of the Unduhol river, one of the headstream of the Dama, that is at present rising just immediately below the elbow of capture and wind-gap. The fact is evidenced by: (1) the general gradient of Desh eastward, viz. in the direction in which both the Alvand and Unduhole rivers. (2) The wide valley in which the Unduhol river originates as a stream and joins Vaitama river after its confluence with Alvand river, take westward turn. Similarly the wide and shallow valley, town of Igatpuri.from this rigion Pimpri flowing east to join the Dama.. GODAVARI : The Godavari, or the Ganga as it is locally called, is the most celebrated river not only of this district, but also of the whole of the peninsular India. The principal course lies just below the scrap of the western side of the Trimbak temple. A larger and more distant branch takes its rise in the ridges that joins the Trimbak and Brahm mountains in a region having higher rainfall. After passing town of Trimbak, the Godavari turns to the west, cutting deep and rocky bed through the hilly plateu (Ghat Matha). After about 15 km. it receives a tributary called Kikvi, on the north. DARNA : The Dama rises on the northen slopes of the Kulang hill fort in the Sahyadris about 13 km. south to Igatpuri. Darna riverbanks are similar to that of Godavari. The river crosses at Chehadi on the Nasik-Pune road, on the way to Sinner. The part of river bed is sandy and rocky beds in between. A dam is constructed across the Dama near Nandgaon village known as Lake Beale. This has enabled the construction of a pick-up weir on the Godavari river at Nandurmadhmeshwar to divert the water into the Godavari canals. At Belu village, the river Dama receives the Kadva river flowing north eastwards between Mhordan-Katlia hills on the west and Kalsubai-Bitangad-Patta range on the east in the south eastern part of Igatpuri Taluka. While Dama is additionally joined by three tributaries such as Waki, the Unduhol and the Valdevi. 9 The Vaki river rises in the Dhoria hill and flows in a general southerly direction and passing between Igatpuri and Ghoti joins the Dama. UNDUHOL: The Unduhol river rises to the south of Anjeneri hill and flows in a southeasterly course and turns in a northerly direction to the north of Kavanai hill and has a very long winding course trending to the east before it joins the Dama below the Dama dam. The area is characterized having higher soil slops with number of tributaries. In its catchment area the Sinnar plateau. The river Dama basin includes various land use patterns pathways such as agriculture, hilly, urban, industrial and wastelands. VALDEVI : The Valdevi river rises on the eastem slopes of Anjaneri hill and flows in a general easterly direction passing by Ambe Bahula and Deolali and joins the Dama near Chehedi. The Nasik district may broadly be divided into three major geographical regions; the downghat Kokan tract, the Gima basin and the Godavari basin. GODAVARI BASIN : The third geographical region, the Godavari Basin, lies to the south of the Satmalas and east of the Sahydrian scrap. The region is the most prosperous and has villages at close intervals unlike the other two. This may be divided into four sub regions: (i) The Godavari valley, (ii) The region of higher soils sloping away from the Satmalas towards the Godavari and drained by innumerable tributaries (iii) The upper Dama Basin, and (iv) Sinnar plateau. 10 GODAVARI VALLEY: The sub-region of the Godavari valley comprising the part of talukas Nasik and Niphad having the zone of high fertility, which increases downwards towards the east. Region closely linked number of villages having intensive agricultural practices. The most commonly grown crops are rice, sugarcane, wheat, jowar and vegetables especially onions. The region is famous for onion and grape cultivation. On account of high fertility and abundant water supplies in and around Niphad taluka, having good links with nearby urban areas including Mumbai. NORTHERN SUB-REGION : The second sub-region, on the slops from Satmalas drained by innumerable streams towards the Godavari, in the part of talukas of Dindori, Chandwad and most of Yeola. This is agriculturally moderately productive. Villages are of small size and less frequent as compaired to Godavari valleys. These villages are invariably located on the banks of the streams of the region. UPPER DARNA BASIN : The upper Dama basin along with that of its tributaries, the Unduhol and the Darna, comprises the near of whole Igatpuri taluka. Rice and ragi are main crops are cultivated from western parts. In theses three valleys, the villages are situated not in the flat lands adjoining the rivers but at their margins where the slopes begin to change rapidly to adjoining hill. This is a unique feature of this sub-region. The main town is Igatpuri having population 31539 and showing rapid development. SINNER PLATEAU : The last sub-region of the plateau of Sinner is one of light reddish brown soils on rough 11 slopping ground with consequent emphasis on bajri (pearl millet) situated cuhivation. Villages are mostly on the banks of the stream. Wherever there is convergence of drainage from different directions, better water supply is assured and large settlements have developed. Sinner town (population : 31620) and main activities includes betel-vine and tobacco cultivation and its products. GEOLOGY: The great trap region of the Deccan covers the whole district. It is entirely of volcanic formation. The volcanic portion consists compact, stratified basalts and an earthy trap. The basalt is either fine textured or it is coarse and nodular. SOILS : As regards the soil, the valleys are filled with disintegrated basalt of various sheds from gray to black, washed down by rain. It is of argillaceous nature. This soil is not favorable to the growth of large trees but it is very fertile for cereals and pulses. The black soil contains high alumina and carbonates of calcium and magnesium with variable amounts of potash, low nitrogen and phosphorus.