CHAPTER - 3 PROFILE OF NASHIK DISTRICT CONTENTS 3.1 Introduction 3.2 History 3.3 Location 3.4 Population 3.5 Weather 3.6 Rainfall 3.7 Agriculture & Irrigation 3.7.1 Soils 3.7.2 Rivers 3.7. Irrigations 3.8 Major Crops 3.9 Transportation & Communication 3.9.1 Roadways 3.9.2 Railways 3.1 Educational Institutions 3.11 Government Institutions 3.12 Public Health 3.13 Public Life & Newspapaers 3.14 Trade & Commerce 3.14.1 Trade System 3.14.2 Market 3.14.3 Total Number of Societties in Nashik District 3.15 Industries CHAPTER - 3 PROFILE OF NASHIK DISTRICT 3.1 Introduction:- Nashik district is one of the oldest, historical, populous rich in culture & heritage, resourceful and colorful districts of Maharashtra. Nashik history belongs to the epic age of our country. It is one of the important districts in revenue, resourceful in pilgrimage and agriculturally rich. It is necessary for us to know the complete profile of the district and understand the behavior and natural agricultural produces and their marketing systems. The profile study of the district gives us detail picture of the nature, resource of our study as it has many land mark achievements in promoting marketing systems in northern Maharashtra. 3.2 History:- Nashik District has a very ancient history starting from the days of early Stone Age. The earliest period known from excavations is the chalcolithics or early Bronze Age. The duration of the early Bronze Age is summarized by archeologists to be from 1500-1000 B.C. We learn from Ramayana that Rama, accomplished by his brother Lakshmana and wife Sita, meet Agastya on the bank of Godavari. The Saga presented him with a bow and two guivers and advised him to settle down at a place called Panchavati from the five great banana trees which grew there. Even now there are some caves 61 near panchavati on the Godavari which go by the name of “Sita Gunnpha”. The earliest literacy mentioned of Nashik, the headquarters of the district, occurs in Varttika of Katyayana (250 B.C.) on Panini’s Sutra (VI, 1, 63) as explained by Patanjali, Nashik was however more famous as a holy tirtha. Coming to the historical period the Nashik District was under the control Emperor Ashoka. As the evidence from the inscription issued by the Dharmamahamatra of Ashoka has been found in the Chandrapur District of Vidarbha. After the Death of Emperor Ashoka, from Satvahanas to the Hala’s rule changes occurred with Nashik’s Rishika People (Khandesh) going through following rulers up to Kushana ruler who ruled along with Nashik, Poona, Kokan & some other districts of Maharashtra. About 250 A.D. Satrahans were replaced by Abhiras. This was later known as Kalachuri-Chedi era. In this era Nashik was known as Trikuta. Nashik District’s history has been many rulers from Chalukyas to Yadavas until the mediavel period. After the conquest by Muslims string from Khiiji in 1294 A.D. may battles and war followed by the Mogal rule until the Chhatrapati Shivaji revolted against Mogul rule in 1656-57. After the death of Shivaji in 1671, Moghuls again took control. The Maratha Empire started around 1760 A.D. In 1792 Marathas had surrendered the British Forces. During the Peshava, the Maratha Kingdom was divided into six territories of which Nashik was m MAP OF NASHIK DISTRICT SHOWING MALEGAON APMC JURISDICTION MAP NO. 3.1 MAHARASTRA STATE part of North Poona territory. The British period started from 1802 to 1947 in which many freedom struggle activities took place. In post independence it was in 1960, after the reorganizing of states, Maharashtra was named and Nashik, as a part of Maharashtra like other districts, has now settled down to ever increasing development activities. The state of Maharashtra was established on 1®* May 1960. In 1960 when the state of Maharashtra was recognized the state of Bombay was merged with Maharashtra as one of the District. On 20*^ February 1981 Districts like Nashik, Dhule, Jalgaon & Ahemdnagar were included under the Nashik Division. At the end of 1998-1999 March, Nashik District had a total of 13 Talukas and the 1818 Villages were divided into 13 Taluka group Development Blocks. 3.3 Location:- The Geographical location of Nashik District can be explained as follows: - Nashik District lies between 19’35’ & 20’52’ North Latitude & 73’16 & 74’56’ east Longitude 15,582.0 Km2 (6015 Sq.Miles). It has a Rhomboidal shape with longer diagonal of about 170 km from South-West to North-East and an extreme breadth of about 170 km from North to South. (Refer Map) Nashik District is bound on the North-West by Dangs and Surat Districts of Gujarat State. On the North Side of the District is Dhule District. On the Eastern part it Is bounded by Jalgaon and Aurangabad District where as on the Southern side it is bounded by Ahemdnagar District and towards the South-West bounded by the Thane District. Nashil< district is named after Nashik City whose location is geographically North Latitude 20’ and East Longitude 73’51’ and is located on the Bombay-Agra National Highway and Rail linked at Nashik Road Station on the Bombay-Bhusaval-Nagpur route of Central Railways. The boundary line on the North of the District is fairly regular running nearly west to east, starting from the Sahayadris at a height of nearly 1,300 Mts above mean Sea Level. It follows the Selbari or Gulna Hills up to Mhaismal about 5 km to the North-West of Galna Fort. Then it deviates a little to the North so as to include village of Nagzari in the District and then runs south wards up to the northern slopes of Satmala Hills. There by completing the circle of boundaries after crossing Aurangabad & Konkan areas along the river sides. The district is mainly divided into three major geographical regions the down ghat Konkan track, the Girna basin and the Godavari basin. The much dissected region lying to the west of the sahyadri edge of the Deccan Plateau in the district pertakes of the nature of the Konkan and may be described as down ghat Konkan track. Agriculture consists chiefly in planting rice in the valley and millets on the less precipitation hill slopes. 64 Girna basin lies to the east of the Sahyadrian scrap and north of satmalas. It constitutes mainly the basin of Tapi distributaries. As the topography is rugged, the soils are generally light, which respond well to irrigation. The rainfall in this region is least annong the three regions. The most important town of this region is Malegaon. Godavari basin in the third geographical region lies to the south of the Satmalas and east of the Sahyadris scrap. The region is most prosperous and has villages at close intervals. This region is sub divided into four sub regions. 1) The Godawari Valley. 2) The region of lighter soils sloping away from the Satmalas towards the Godawari and drain by innumerable tributaries. 3) The upper Darna basin & 4) Sinner Plateau. 3.4 Population:- As per the census study of population of Nashik District from 1951 to 2001 is shown below. Year Population 1951 14.10 Lakh 1961 18.55 Lakh 1971 23.69 Lakh 1981 29.92 Lakh 1991 38.51 Lakh 2001 49.88 Lakh Source: - Nashik District Gazette 2002 - 2003. 65 According to Census report of 1991 of the total population of 38.51 Lakhs, 24.82 Lakhs was the rural population while the urban population was 13.69 Lakhs. The Density population taluka wise is shown in Table 3.1. 3.5 Weather:- From March to 1®* half of June weather is dry & hot and sumnner season is experienced with temperatures ranging from 38’c to 42’c. Cold weather is experienced from December to February with temperature ranging from 12’c to 26’c. The south west monsoon starts from 2^^ half of June and continues up to September and is followed by post monsoon season in October and November. In the year 1990 Malegaon City in Nashik District had the minimum temperature of 18’c in the month of January. The humidity, the air is very humid during the south west monsoon seasons the air is dry. In summer humidity is around 20 & 25% (Refer Table 3.2). 3.6 Rain fall:- The rain fall in Nashik District is under the influence of south west monsoon. However, its distribution all over the district is in a considerable degree, affected by the relief of the district. There is a un even distribution of the rainfall. On the one hand the extreme west of the district receives maximum rainfall of 148 inches (average) in the central and eastern sectors of the district. The western talukas of the district is covered by the high hills and a rugged terrain. Taluka wise 66 Igatpuri taluka receives the highest rain fall of 148 inches. The central part comprising Nashik, Kalwan, Baglan Dindori and Chandor talukas gets moderate rainfall of 40 inches while Sinner, Niphad, Nandgaon, Malegaon, Yeola talukas receives a scanty of deficient rainfall. The average annual rainfall in the district is 1,034.5 mm (40.73”). About 88% of the annual rainfall is received during the south west monsoon between June and September. (Table - 3.3) Total Rainfall Taluka Wise. 67 CHART NO - 3.1 DENSITY POPULATION. NUMBER OF TOWNS & VILLAGES IN NASHIK DISTRICT IN YEAR - 1991 Source: - Gazette of Nashik District 1991 - 1992. Sr. Name of Area in Aera in Number Number Number Total Population Population Total No.