District Survey Report

DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT

RIVER SAND MINING OR RIVER BED MINING WEST GARO HILLS DISTRICT, MEGHALAYA

AS PER NOTIFICATION NO. S.O. 3611(E) NEW DELHI, THE 25th JULY,2018 OF MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE, GOVT. OF INDIA

Compiled by:

Chairman Nodal Officer Member Secretary District Level Task Force, Smt. R.K. Sangma, MFS, District Level Task Force, West Garo Hills Divisional Forest Officer, Social Forestry Division, West Garo Hills, Tura West Garo Hills, Tura

DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT

Sl. No. Contents Page No. 1. INTRODUCTION 4-6 2. OVERVIEW OF MINING ACTIVITY IN THE DISTRICT 7

3. THE LIST OF MINING LEASES IN THE DISTRICT WITH LOCATION, 7-14 AREA AND PERIOD OF VALIDITY 4. DETAIL OF ROYALTY OR REVENUE RECEIVED IN LAST THREE YEARS 5. DETAIL OF PRODUCTION OF SAND OR BAJARI OR MINOR 15 MINERAL IN LAST THREE YEARS 6. PROCESS OF DEPOSITION OF SEDIMENTS IN THE RIVERS OF THE 15-17 DISTRICT 7. GENERAL PROFILE OF THE DISTRICT 17-40 8. LAND UTILIZATION PATTERN IN THE DISTRICT : FOREST, 41-44 AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, MINING ETC.

9. PHYSIOGRAPHY OF THE DISTRICT 45-46 10. RAINFALL : YEAR WISE 47-48

11. GEOLOGY AND MINERAL WEALTH OF WEST GARO HILLS 48-51 DISTRICT

12. DISTRICT WISE DETAIL OF RIVER OR STREAM AND OTHER SAND SOURCE 13. DISTRICT WISE DETAIL OF AVAILABILITY OF SAND OR GRAVEL OR 52 AGGREGATE RESOURCES

14. DISTRICT WISE DETAIL OF EXISTING MINING LEASES OF SAND 53 AND AGGREGATES

15. DRAINAGE SYSTEM WITH DESCRIPTION OF MAIN RIVERS 53-55

16. SALIENT FEATURES OF IMPORTANT RIVERS & STREAMS 56-60

17. MINEABLE POTENTIAL (RIVER WISE) 60-62 18. SATELLITE MAPS 63-72

1.INTRODUCTION West Garo Hills is one of the largest districts of Meghalaya located in the western part of the State. The Garo Hills region is divided into five districts, viz the West Garo Hills district, the East Garo Hills district, the South Garo Hills district, the North Garo Hills district and the South West Garo Hills district. The district headquarters of West Garo Hills is Tura, which is the second largest town in the State after Shillong. The West Garo Hills district lies on the western part of the state of Meghalaya bounded by the East Garo Hills district on the east, the South Garo Hills district on the south-east, the North Garo Hills district on the north and South West Garo Hills district on the west and Bangladesh on the south. The total geographical area of the district is 2855 Sq. Km. The district is situated approximately between the latitudes 90° 30' and 89° 40' E, and the longitudes of 26° and 25° 20' N. West Garo Hills district is pre-dominantly inhabited by the Garos, a tribe with a matrilineal society belonging to the Bodo family of the Tibeto-Burman race. Other indigenous inhabitants are the Hajongs, Rabhas, Koches, Rajbangsis, Meches, Kacharis and Dalus. The district is also inhabited by Bengalis, Assamese, Nepalese, Marwaries, Biharis and people from other parts of India.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

 The early history of the Garos is shrouded in mystery. The forefathers of the Garos allied to Koches, Chutiyas, Kacharis and Meches came from the north-west. Another tradition ascribing some support to this theory, maintains that the Garos are descended from their forefathers in Asong Tibetgori. The Garos in the Kamrup plain, recount a tradition that their forefathers came eastward from the Himalayas and reached Gondulghat where they made a brief halt, and on leaving that place, traversed to Sadiya, from where they trekked on into the north bank of Brahmaputra. After a long westward trail, they reached Amingaon. There in the north bank their life was not secure, they crossed the Bahmaputra river and came to occupy Kamakhya. They occupied it for some generations until the Koches came to invade the Garo Kingdom. From Gauhati, wave after wave of westward migration poured to the Garo outer hills, and later on penetrated the interior hills of their present abode. Probably who those crossed the hills and advanced further south to Mymensing in Bangladesh were the earliest immigrants whereas those who came later on, now confined into their present settlement at Goalpara and Kamrup, belonged to the later immigrants.  If critically examined, the ancient history of Garos would seem to have been a period marked by persistent and tenacious internal warfare and many blood-feuds seem to have occurred between families or villages and between neighbouring Chiefs or Nokmas.  Medieval Period  With the passage of time in the medieval period, while the Garos in the hills were still divided into a number of petty Nokmaships, the plain tracts along the fringes at the foot of the hills came to be included in the many Zamindari Estates, which eventually developed into fewer but larger complexes. During the medieval era and the Mughal period, the more important estates bordering the Garo Hills were Karaibari, Kalimalupara, Mechpara and Habraghat in Rongpur district, Susang and Sherput in

Mymensing district of Bengal and Bijini in the Eastern Duars.Early records describe the Garos as being in a state of intermittent conflict with Zamindars of these large estates.  Modern Period  The contact between the British and the Garos started towards the close of the 18th Century after the British East India Company had secured the Diwani of Bengal from the Mughal Emperor. Consequently, all the estates bordering upon Garo Hills, which for all practical purposes had been semi-independent were brought under the control of the British.  Though political control had passed from the Mughals to the British, the latter, like Mughals, had no desire to control the Estates or their tributaries directly. The Zamindars were not disturbed in the internal management of their estates. In fact, they were entrusted, as they had been by the Mughals, with the responsibility of keeping the hill Garos in check with help of their retainers. Thus, in the beginning, the intermittent conflict between the Zamindars and the Garos went on unabated until the situation deteriorated to the extent that the British were forced to take notice. This development led ultimately to the annexation of the Garo Hills in 1873. Captain Williamson was the first Deputy Commissioner of the unified district. The district was bifurcated into two districts viz; East Garo Hills and West Garo Hills districts in October 1979. The District is administered with two sub- Division i.e. Dadenggre Civil Sub-Division & Tikrikilla Civil Sub-Division. The District comprises of 7 (Seven) Community and Rural Development (C&RD) Blocks. They are: Rongram C & R. D. Block,Dadenggre C & R. D. Block, Dalu C & R. D. Block, Selsella C & R. D. Block,Tikrikilla C & R. D. Block, Gambegre C & R. D. Block, Demdemma C & R. D. Block.

The population of the District is 4, 70,796 as per the Census 2011, includes 2, 37,024 males and 2,33,772 females. The density of population is 175 persons/sq.km. The average literacy % of this district is 91% (As per 2011 census).

The Tura range form watersheds in the West Garo Hills district, from which the rivers flows towards Bangladesh plains in the south and the Brahmaputra valley in the north and the west. The important rivers of the north group are the Kalu, Ringgi and the Didak. The important rivers of the southern group are the Bhogai, Dareng etc. The Tura range is also the source of the Simsang (Someswari), one of the major rivers of Meghalaya, whose valley is of the most important feature in the South Garo Hills. The longest river in Garo Hills is Jinjiram River. The District Survey Report has been prepared as per the guidelines mentioned in the “Appendix-X” of the notification No. S.O. 361(E) Dated New Delhi the 25th July, 2018 of Ministry of Environment, Forest& Climate Change. The main objective of the preparation of District Survey Report (As per the sustainable Sand Mining Guideline) is to ensure the identification of areas of aggradations or deposition where mining can be allowed; and identification of areas of erosion and proximity to infrastructural structures and installation where mining should be prohibited and calculation of annual rate of replenishment and allowing time for replenishment after mining in that area. The District Environment Impact Assessment Authority (DEIAA) and District Environment Assessment Committee (DEAC) will utilize the report in favour of the environmental clearance to concern activities in the District. Also this report will act as a reference for the Project Proponents willing to apply for lease of areas rich in sand.

MAP OF WEST GARO HILLS:

1. OVERVIEW OF MINING ACTIVIITIES Sand mining and other extraction activities in West Garo Hills District were mostly done from the rivers and streams available in the District. There are no sand mine or quarry available in the West Garo Hills District except the rivers and streams. The unscientific and indiscriminate mining, absence of post-mining treatment and management of mined areas are making the fragile ecosystems more vulnerable to environmental degradation hence leading to large scale land cover/land use changes. In Garo Hills mining causes massive damage to the landscapes and biological communities as a result, soil erosion, scarcity of water, pollution of air, water and soil reduced soil fertility and loss of biodiversity are some of the serious problems of the area.

Most of the economic mineral resources of Garo Hills are associated with the Eocene Tertiary, Sedimentary formation. These minerals are Lithomargic clay, Fireclay, Phosphorite, Gypsum, Quartz and Glass sand.

Lithomargic Clay and Fireclay: These clays are associated with the coal deposits of the West Daranggre coalfields. The estimated reserve of the lithomargic clay and fireclay is of the order of 80 million tones, out of which fireclay reserve is 70 million tones. Tests conducted on these clays show that they can be utilized for production of high-class refractory bricks and insulators. Phosphorite, Gypsum and Glass-sand deposits found so far are not of economic importance. There are also other minerals, which are associated with the Archaean-gneissic complex of the Shillong group of rocks. These are Kaolin or China clay, Quartzite, Feldspar, Banded hematite- quartzite, Sillimanite, Granites and Dolerites. A deposit of good quantity Kaolin or China Clay of economic importance has been located in the Darugre area in the district. A block of this deposit, which has been investigated, has an estimated reserve of 1.20 million tones of good clay. The adjoining areas which are yet to be explored also contain sizeable quantity of this clay.

2. THE LIST OF MINING LEASES IN THE DISTRICT WITH LOCATION, AREA AND PERIOD OF 7

VALIDITY

Status (Working Date of /Non- Obtained Method of Period of Name of Address and Mining lease Area of commence Working Captive/ Environmental Mining SL. Name of Period Mining lease Mining lease Location of Mining Lease the contact no. of Grant Order Mining ment of /Temp. Non- Clearance (Yes/No). (Opencast/ No. the Lessee (Initial) (1st/2nd…re (Latitude & Latitude) Mineral Lessee No. & date lease (ha) Mining Working Captive If Yes Letter No with Undergroun newal) Operation for date of grant of EC d) dispatch etc.) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Mangapara area, P.O. Zikabari, P.S. Tura, District: Village- West Garo Hills Nogapara, Noga 1 N 25037’35.02” & E Nokat, P.O. No. Shri No.WGH/DEIAA/EC/2 90000’42.01” Stone Garobadha, P.S. B/16/VII/3563 3 Non- opencast 1 Kingkong 1.67 20.2.2017 19.12.2020 20.12.2017 Working 017/5 dated 2 N 25037’34.98” & E boulder Ampati, South Dated (three) Captive mining Marak 20.11.2017 90000’39.12” West Garo Hills 20.12.2017 3 N 25037’30.11” & E District, 90000’43.67” Meghalaya 4 N 25037’30.81” & E 90000’46.35” Manggapara, P.O. Zikabari, West Garo Hills Village- 1 N.25°37’29.40” Wakrugre, P.O. No. E.90°00’39.02” Shri No. Stone Zekabari, P.S. B/16/VII/3581 Non- 2 N.25°37’29.16” opencast 2 Jengna 1.28 20.12.2017 19.12.2022 5 (five) 20.12.2017 Working WGH/DEIAA/EC/201 boulder Tura, west Garo Dated Captive E.90°00’43.80” mining Marak 7/2 dated 20.11.2017 Hills, 20.12.2017 3 N.25°37’31.92” Meghalaya E.90°00’43.84” 4 N.25°37’31.89” E.90°00’39.04” Matchokchiring Village- No. Manggapara, P.O. Zikabari, Shri Manggapara, No. Stone B/16/VII/3572 Non- West Garo Hills 1 opencast 3 Hanseng A. P.O. Zekabari, 0.8 20.12.2017 19.12.2022 5 (five) 20.12.2017 Working WGH/DEIAA/EC/201 boulder Dated Captive N 25°36’39.79” & E mining Sangma West Garo Hills 7/4 dated 20.11.2017 20.12.2017 90°01’14.69” District 2 N 25°36’40.93” & E

90°01’11.52” 3 N 25°36’43.34” & E 90°01’13.05” 4 N 25°36’42.20” & E 90°01’16.18" Damjonggre, P.O. Garobadha, West Garo Hills Village- 1 N.25°36’29.56” No. No. Bolgangre, P.O. E.90°01’47.06” Stone Shri Ringh B/16/VII/3590 Non- WGH/DEIAA/EC/201 opencast 4 Mukdangra, P.S. 1.28 20.12.2017 19.12.2022 5 (five) 20.12.2017 Working 2 N.25°36’27.90” boulder Sangma Dated Captive 7/3 dated mining Ampati, South- E.90°01’47.01” 20.12.2017 20.11.2017 West Garo Hills 3 N.25°36’27.81” E.90°01’53.63” 4 N.25°36’29.37” E.90°01’53.64” Manggapara area, P.O. Zikabari, West Garo Hills Village- 1 N 25°37’12.58” & E Gangglangre, No. 90°00’47.56” Shri P.O. Garobadha, No. Stone B/16/VII/3555 Non- 2 N 25°37’14.27” & E opencast 5 Willing P.S. Ampati, 0.41 20.12.2017 19.12.2021 4 (four) 20.12.2017 Working WGH/DEIAA/EC/201 boulder Dated Captive 90°00’49.54” mining Marak South- West 7/1 dated 20.11.2017 20.12.2017 3 N 25°37’14.86” & E Garo Hills 90°00’47.49” District 4 N 25°37’13.76” & E 90°00’46.11” Sabraguri, P.O. Dhanua, West Garo Hills District M/S Sabraguri 1 N 25° 40’46.88” E 89°56’ Stone Quarry, No. 46.25” Shri. No. Stone Sabraguri, P.O. B/16/VII/2312 Non- 2 N 25° 40’44.90” E 89°56’ opencast 6 Washing 1 11.06.2018 10.06.2023 5 (five) 11.06.2018 Working WGH/DEIAA/2017/6 boulder Dhanua, West -18 Dated Captive 47.70” mining Ch. Marak dated 20.03.2018 Garo Hills 11.06.2018 3 N 25° 40’46.13” E 89°56’ District 50.70” 4 N 25° 40’48.35” E 89°56’ 47.70”

Dhanua-Marasali, P.O. Dhanua, West Garo Hills District 1 N 25° 40’15.71” E 89°56’ Jonkipara, P.O. No. Shri. No. 57.90” Stone Dhanua, West B/16/VII/2320 Non- opencast 7 Sengrak 1.28 11.06.2018 10.06.2023 5 (five) 11.06.2018 Working WGH/DEIAA/2017/7 2 N 25° 40’14.44” E 89°57’ boulder Garo Hills Dated Captive mining Ch. Marak dated 20.03.2018 01.07” District. 11.06.2018 3 N 25°40’16.87” E 89°57’ 03.56” 4 N 25°40’18.47” E 89°57’ 01.12” Dapgri, Manggapara, P.O. Zekabar, West Garo Hills 1 N 25° 37’23.38” E 90° 00’ Chengkompara, No. 41.00” No. Stone Shri. Rana P.O. & P.S. B/16/VII/4316 Non- 2 N 25°37’25.70” E 90° 00’ opencast 8 0.67 05.11.2018 04.11.2023 5 (five) 05.11.2018 Working WGH/DEIAA/EC/201 boulder B. Sangma Ampati, South- Dated Captive 42.57” mining 7/9 dated 06.07.2018 West Garo Hills. 05.11.2018 3 N 25°37’26.71” E 90°00’ 40.75” 4 N 25° 37’24.40” E 90° 00’ 38.95” Matcha Nokpante, Dhanua, West Garo Hills 1 N.25°41’22.11” Rochonpara, No. No. E.89°56’19.46” 2 Shri. P.O. Dhanua, Stone B/16/VII/846- 10 Non- WGH/DEIAA/EC/201 N.25°41’24.06” opencast 9 Simsang P.S. 0.68/0.80 05.03.2019 04.03.2029 05.03.2019 Working boulder 54 Dated (ten) Captive 7/10 dated E.89°56’22.50” 3 mining Ch. Marak Hallidayganj, 05.03.2019 23.10.2018 N.25°41’25.86” West Garo Hills E.89°56’21.79”4 N.25°41’24.10” E.89°56’18.38” Jongkipara (Sewraguri) P.O. Dhanua, West Garo Hills Jongkipara, P.O. No. Shri. No.B/16/VII/8 1 N.25°40’33.82” Stone Dhanua, P.S. 10 Non- WGH/DEIAA/EC/201 opencast 10 Nansing 55-63 dated 0.95/1.00 05.03.2019 04.03.2029 05.03.2019 Working E.89°56’43.69” boulder Tura, West Garo (ten) Captive 7/11 dated mining Ch. Marak 05.03.2019 2 N.25°40’35.39” Hills 23.10.2018 E.89°56’43.37” 3 N.25°40’34.33” E.89°56’49.36”

4 N.25°40’32.08” E.89°56’49.25”

Bollonggre Area, P.O. Dhanua P.S. Tura West Garo Hills 1 N 25° 39' 5.8" E 89° No. Smti. Bollonggre, P.O. No.WGH/DEIAA/EC/2 57'50.3" Stone B/16/VII/1387 Non- opencast 11 Greballina Dhanua, West 0.66 12.04.2019 11.04.2024 5 (five) 12.04.2019 Working 017/19 dated 2 N 25° 39' 5.3" E 89° boulder dated Captive mining Ch. Marak Garo Hills 12.11.2018 57'52.8" 12.04.2019 3 N 25° 39' 7.3" E 89° 57'53.1" 4 N 25° 39' 8.5" E 89° 57'51.1" Manggapara, P.O. Dhanua, West Garo Hill 1 N 25° 37' 5.9" E 90° 00' No. No. 42.8" Shri. Manggapara, Stone B/16/VII/1418 Non- WGH/DEIAA/EC/201 2 N 25° 37' 4.7" E 90° 00' opencast 12 Janison Ch. Dhanua, West 0.7 16.04.2019 15.04.2024 5 (five) 16.04.2019 Working boulder dated Captive 7/12 DATED 45.6" mining Marak Garo Hills 16.04.2019 23.10.2018 3 N 25° 37' 6.4" E 90° 00' 47.6" 4 N 25° 37' 8.0" E 90° 00' 44.9" Manggapara, Zikabari, West Garo Hills 1 N.25°36’28.7” E. No. No. 90°01’42.1” Smt. Stone Manggapara, B/16/VII/1396 Non- WGH/DEIAA/EC/201 2 N.25°36’30.3” E. opencast 13 Wensilla 0.56/0.55 12.04.2019 11.04.2019 5 (five) 12.04.2019 Working boulder P.O. Zikabari dated Captive 7/21 dated 90°01’39.2” mining Ch. Marak 12.04.2019 12.11.2018 3 N.25°36’32.6” E. 90°01’40.7" 4 N.25°36’32.0” E. 90°01’43.3”

Galamatgre, P.O. Zikabari, West Garo Hills 1 N25°38'19.70" E 090°00'57.50" Vill: Dijinggre, NO. No. 2 N 25°38'18.40" E Shri. Stone Rongmatchokgr B/16/VII/2094 Non- WGH/DEIAA/EC/201 090°00'58.40" opencast 14 Prisbar K. 0.28 06.06.2019 05.06.2024 5 (five) 06.06.2019 Working boulder e, P.O. & P.S. dated Captive 7/14 dated 3 N 25°38'19.20" E mining Sangma Phulbari 06.06.2019 12.11.2018 090°00'59.80" 4 N 25°38'21.20" E 090°00'58.10" 5 N 25°38'18.72" E 090°00'58.04" Walkamgre, P.O. Kalchengpara, West Garo Hills 1 N 25° 40' 16.6" E 90° Smt. No. No. 04'59.2" Stone Nandamer Amguri, P.O. B/16/VII/2295 Non- WGH/DEIAA/EC/201 opencast 15 0.6 18.06.2019 17.06.2024 5 (five) 18.06.2019 Working 2 N 25° 40' 15.1" E 90° boulder ry Ch. Selsella dated Captive 7/16 dated mining 05'01.5" Marak 18.06.2019 12.11.2018 3 N 25° 40' 16.6" E 90° 05'02.4" 4 N 25° 40' 19.6" E 90° 05'00.8" Randhigopa, Chiron Songma, West Garo Hills 1 N.25°39’13.8” E.089°57’29.5” 2 N.25°39’16.0” E.089°57’28.2” PCCF & HOFF No. 3 N.25°39’19.7” letter No. Smt. Mawryngkhang SEIAA(2018)/PP/01/P E.089°57’27.2” Stone MFG.68/25/M 10 Non- opencast 16 Evalyni village, East 10 28.06.2019 27.06 2029 28.06.2019 Working t./2018/45 - A/227- 4 N.25°39’19.4” boulder /LoI/7879-885 (ten) Captive mining Kharbani Khasi Hills 240 dated E.089°57’22.6” dated 22.04.2019 5 N.25°39’19.6” 28.06.2019 E.089°57’18.6” 6 N.25°39’21.9” E.089°57’17.3” 7 N.25°39’22.4” E.089°57’14.8” 8 N.25°39’19.1”

E.089°57’12.4” 9 N.25°39’10.2” E.089°57’27.5” 10 N.25°39’11.8” E.089°57’28.5”

Matchokchiring Manggapara, P.O. Zikabari, West Garo Hills 1 N.25°36’37.5” No. No. Shri. Manggapara E.90°01’28.6”2 Stone B/16/VII/2786 Non- WGH/DEIAA/EC/201 opencast 17 Tengwan P.O. Dhanua 0.8 30.07.2019 29.07.2024 5 (five) 30.07.2019 Working N.25°36’37.9” boulder dated Captive 7/20 dated mining S. Sangma West Garo Hills E.90°01’26.7” 3 30.07.2019 12.11.2018 N.25°36’40.2” E.90°01’24.6” 4 N.25°36’41.1” E.90°01’29.9” Matchok Chiringgre, P.O. Garobadha, West Garo Hills 1 N 25°36’42.40” E 90° 01’ 24.02” Tura Reserve No. No. Shri. 2 N 25°36’41.57” E 90° 01’ Stone Gittim, P.O. B/16/VII/3196 Non- WGH/DEIAA/EC/201 opencast 18 Diwan B. 0.44 27.08.2019 26.08.2024 5 (five) 27.08.2019 Working 23.42” boulder Tura, West Garo dated Captive 7/13 dated mining Marak 3 N 25°36’40.47” E 90°01’ Hills 27.08.2019 23.10.2018 22.95” 4 N 25°36’40.59” E 90°01’ 26.77” 5 N 25°36’41.32” E 90°01’ 27.02”

3. DETAILS OF ROYALTY OR REVENUE RECEIVED IN THE LAST THREE YEARS

Year Minor minerals Stone/ boulder/chips (m³) Royalty or Revenue (Lakhs) 2016-17 135709.417 327.22 2017-18 65528.06 158.10 2018-19 98384.678 172.09

4. DETAIL OF PRODUCTION OF SAND OR BAJRI OR MINOR MINERAL IN LAST THREE YEARS

Year Stone/boulder/chips in m³

2016-17 135709.417 2017-18 65528.06 2018-19 98384.678

5. PROCESS OF DEPOSITION OF SEDIMENTS IN THE RIVERS OF THE DISTRICT: River sediment refers to the mixture of mineral matters which are derived from the weathering and erosion of rocks present in the river bed. Breaking down of rocks by a geological agent, here it is a river (flow of water), is called erosion. The erosion of rocks occurs in many ways. Weathering is described as disintegration and decomposition of rocks due to change in physical and chemical conditions of the rock. Sediments are derived by these natural processes. Sediments are subsequently transported by water and/or by the force of gravity acting on the sediments.

Sediments become the river’s load and the river transport this loads through its course. Transportation of the sediments depends on the energy of the river. Boulders are transported by traction and are rolled along the bed of the river. Slightly smaller particles, such as pebbles and gravel, are transported by siltation. This is where the load bounces along the bed of the river because the river has enough energy to lift the particles off the bed but the particles are too heavy to travel by suspension. Fine particles like clay and silt are transported in suspension; they are suspended in the water. Most of a river’s load is transported by suspension. Solution is a special method of transportation. This is where particles are dissolved into the water so only rocks that are soluble, such as limestone or chalk, can be transported in solution. 15

Deposition occurs when forces responsible for sediment transportation are no longer sufficient to overcome the forces of gravity and friction which are creating a resistance to motion. To transport load, a river needs to have energy at the same time when a river loses energy, it is forced to deposit its load. One of the following ways, a river could lose its energy:

1. Reduction in the discharge: Reduction in discharge may be due to lack of precipitation and evaporation and abstraction by human activity.

2. Change in the river gradient: If the gradient of the river’s course flattens out, the river will deposit its load because it will be travelling a lot slower. When a river meets the sea a river will deposit its load because the gradient is generally reduced at sea level and the sea will absorb a lot of energy.

Fig: Schematic diagram of process on meander bend.

Meandering of river in Garo Hills

Much of the material will be carried in suspension and loads in suspension erode the river banks by abrasion. When rivers flow over flatter land, they form large bends called meanders. As a river goes around a bend, most of the water is pushed towards the outside causing increased erosion. The river is now eroding sideways into its banks rather than downwards into its bed, a process called lateral erosion (Plate 1. A & B). On the inside of the bend, in contrast, there is much less water. The river will therefore be shallow and slow flowing. It cannot carry as much material and so sand and gravels will be deposited. This is called a point bar or slip off slope. Due to erosion on the outside of a bend and deposition on the inside, the shape of a meander will change over a period of time. Eventually deposition will block off the old meander to leave an oxbow lake. The oxbow lake will slowly dry up, only refilling after heavy rain or during a flood. The Tura range form watersheds in the West Garo Hills district, from which the rivers flows towards Bangladesh plains in the south and the Brahmaputra valley in the north and the west. The important rivers of the north group are the Kalu, Ringgi and the Didak. The important rivers of the southern group are the Bhogai, Dareng etc. The Tura range is also the source of the Simsang (Someswari), one of the major rivers of Meghalaya, whose valley is of the most important feature in the South Garo Hills.

Map of River Basin

6. GENERAL PROFILE OF THE DISTRICT West Garo Hills is one of the largest district of Meghalaya located in the western part of the State. The Garo Hills district was divided into five districts, viz the West Garo Hills district, the East Garo Hills district, South Garo Hills district, North Garo Hills district and South West Garo Hills district. The district headquarters of West Garo Hills is Tura, which is the second largest town in the State after Shillong. Boundary: The West Garo Hills district lies on the western part of the state of Meghalaya bounded by the East Garo Hills district on the east, the South Garo Hills on the south-east, the North Garo Hills on the north and South West Garo Hills on the west and Bangladesh on the south. The district is situated approximately between the latitudes 90° 30' and 89° 40' E, and the longitudes of 26° and 25° 20' N. West Garo Hills district is pre-dominantly inhabited by the Garos, a tribe with a matrilineal society belonging to the Bodo family of the Tibeto-Burman race tribes. Other indigenous inhabitants are the Hajongs, Rabhas, Koches, Rajbansis, Meches, Kacharis and Dalus. The district is also inhabited by Bengalis, Assamese, Nepalese, Marwaries, Biharis and people from other parts of India.

DISTRICT AT A GLANCE

Area and Administrative Units Total Geographical Area 2855 Sq. Km.

Urban Area 18.3 Sq. Km.

Rural Area 2836.7 Sq. Km.

Sub-Divisions 2

Development Blocks 7

Towns 1

Population (2011)

Total 4,70,796

Rural 3,95,938

Urban 74,858

Male 2,37,024

Female 2,33,772

Scheduled Tribe 3,35,841

Scheduled Caste 6,715

Others 1,28,240

Density (per sq. km.) 175

Sex Ratio (females/'000 males) 979

Total 979 Rural 977 Urban 997

Literacy (2011)

Literates 2,60,911 67%

Male 1,40,297 72%

Urban 74,858

Female 1,20,615 63%

Health

Hospitals Government 3

Hospitals Private 2

Dispensaries 3

Primary Health Centres (PHC) 18 Community Health Centres (CHC) 6 Family Welfare Centres (RFW) 5

S.No. Particular Year Unit Statistics 3. AGRICULTURE A. Land utilization i) Total Area 2016-17 281100 Hectare ii) Forest cover 2016-17 126164Hectare iii) Non Agriculture land 2016-17 15395Hectare v) Other Cultivable land Nil nil 4. FOREST (I) Forest 2015-16 6669 Hectare 5. LIVESTOCK & POULTRY A. Cattle i)Cows 2015-16 464081 nos ii)Buffaloes 2015-16 nil 6. v) Roads (a) National Highway 2016-17 126.412 kms (b)State Highway 2016-17 23 kms ©Main District Highway 2016-17 18 kms (d)Other district & High way 2016-17 18.500 kms (e)Rural road/Agriculture 2016-17 1.674 kms Marketing Board. (f) Kachcha Road /PMGSY 2016-17 46.36 kms (VI) COMMUNICATION (a) Post Offices 2015-16 71 Nos (VIII) Banking commercial (a) Commercial Bank 2015-16 32 nos N.A. (b) Rural Bank 2015-16 9 N.A. © Co-operative bank products 8 nos N.A. (d) PLDB Branches

(IX) Education (a) Pre-Primary school 2016 641 nos (b)Lower Primary 2016 1225 nos

(c)Upper Primary 2016 503 nos (d) Secondary 2016 216 nos (e) Higher Secondary schools 2016 48 nos (i) Colleges 2016 11 nos

(ii) University 2016 2 nos

Public structures:

Sl No. Name of Road Length in Km No of bridges No. Of culverts 1. Agia-Medhipara Road(AMPT 133.00 77 448 Road) 2. Rongsai –Borjhora-Bajengdoba 18.27 17 75 Road(RBB Road) 3. Garobadha Mankachar Road 20.00 30 37 4. NEC Bye Pass Road 3.30 4 9 5. NH-51 41

Soil:

Major Soils (common names like red sandy loam deep soils (etc.,) - Red and lateritic sandy loam soils. Soil of West Garo hills district, Meghalaya mainly fall under five physiography:

S.No. Physiography Area Percentage 1 Hill top / Ridge 2933 ha 0.80 2 Hill side slope 292427 ha 79.53 3 Foot hill 1034 ha 0.28 4 Hillock / Hummock 32476 ha 8.83 5 Alluvium plain / Flood plain 37278 ha 10.14 Soils of the district fall in six slope classes: - Nearly level to very gently sloping (0 – 3%), 37278 ha (10.14%) S.No. Slope Area Percentage 1 Very gently to gently sloping (1-5%) 1034 ha 0.28 2 Gently to moderately sloping (3-10%) 2010 ha 0.55 3 Moderately sloping to strongly sloping (5-15%) 33399 ha 9.08 4 Moderately steep to steep sloping (15-33%) 253981 ha 69.07

5 Very steep to extremely steep sloping (>33%) 38446 ha 10.46 Various land use / land cover classes of the district are as under Agriculture & Jhum:- 37586 ha (10.22%) Forest : - 328562 ha (89.36%) Miscellaneous land :- (River, habitation etc.) 1552 ha (0.42%) Soils of the area are taxonomically classified into four orders i.e. Alfisols, Entisols, Inceptisols and ultisols. All the twenty five soils series identified in the area are further classified into 8 sub-orders, 11great groups, 14 subgroups and 25 families. T The soils comprising of 37278ha (10.14%) falls under none to slight erosion The area of 1031ha(0.28 %) represents slight to moderate erosion Moderate erosional land 279702ha (76.07%) 48137ha (13.09 %)accounts moderate to severe erosion.

FOREST : The district is rich in forest resources. The important timbers available in the district are sal, teak, gamari, khokon, champa etc. The other major forest produces are bamboo, cane, firewood, broomstick, thatching grass etc. The area under forests is 165508 ha. The types of forest prevalent in the district are Reserved Forests under the Forest Department, Village Reserved Forests which are managed by the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, National Park, Biosphere Reserves and Private/Community Forests under ‘Nokma’ system. Development schemes of different forest produces/trees namely sal, teak, critical area plantation and other miscellaneous plantations are being implemented every year by the Forest Department through the budgetary allocations. The Meghalaya Forest Development Corporation , a state owned Corporation is set up by the State Govt. to avail of institutional credit linked afforestation schemes. The dept. is maintaining five nurseries having capacity of 90000 to 100000 nos of seedlings/saplings in the district.

Climate The climate of the district is largely controlled by South-West monsoon and seasonal winds. The West Garo Hills district being relatively lower in altitude to the rest of Meghalaya, experiences a fairly high temperature for most part of the year. The average rainfall is 330 cms. Of which more than two-thirds occur during the monsoon, winter being practically dry. The district has mostly dense tropical mixed forest, and a small patch of temperate forest in the higher parts of the Tura range.

Transport & Communication Tura, the headquarters of the district, is well connected by roads with other places in the district as well as with the rest of the Meghalaya and Assam. Road Transport by Meghalaya Transport Corporation and other private transport services run regularly connecting Tura with all

important places in the districts of Garo Hills and also to Shillong (323 kms), the capital of the State. Regular day and night bus services are also available from Tura to Guwahati (220 kms), the capital of Assam, which is also the nearest railhead. There are also regular bus services connecting Tura to Siliguri, a city in North Bengal. Also the place is connected to Dhubri in Assam by road and river transport. Bus and taxi servises are available on shared and hire basis.

Transport facility within the 3 districts of Garo Hills:

 To East Garo Hills (Williamnagar, Resu, etc) bus & taxi services are available at Chandmary Bus station located toward Garo Baptist Church and Mission Hospital.  To South Garo Hills (Baghmara, Siju, etc) bus & taxi services are available at Tura Bazar near Food World Restaurant.  The National Highway 51 connects Paikan on National Highway 37 in Assam with Tura, the district headquarter which extends further to Dalu, near the Bangladesh border.  There are City Bus services in and around Tura for the convenience of office goers and others Taxi & Auto services are also available.

Infrastructure There are 6 (six) degree colleges in the district. There is also a Law College and two Colleges of Teacher's Education (B.Ed College) at Tura. There are 17 higher secondary schools around 196 secondary schools Deficit Pattern Sec. School - 1 and upper primary and primary schools in almost all the villages. Other than that there are vocational institutes at Tura like Regional Vocational Training Institute (RVTI) and Industrial Training Institute (ITI). Monfort Centre for Education is also providing education to the physically handicapped persons, which also provides training to the teachers to properly equip them to educate the physically handicapped students. At Tura, there is a campus of North Eastern Hill University and a Home Science College has been set up in the District. The district has 4 Hospitals, 10 Primary Health Centres (1 underway), 2 State Dispensaries, 5 Community Health Centres, 82 Health Sub Centres and a Nursing School. Doordarshan Kendra and All India Radio, Tura transmits programmes covering local issues, featuring local people, in the local language.

Economic Scenario Since independence, various schemes have been adopted by the central and local governments for economic development. The district council was created under the sixth schedule of the Constitution of India to preserve the traditional way of life of the people, to protect them from exploitation by others, and to make them leaders of their own progress. The tribal development blocks came into existence to ensure speedy development. Incentives provided for cash crops and efforts made to popularize terrace farming have yielded some results. The communication bottle-neck, soil erosion and loss of fertility are, however, among the problems retarding prosperous economic growth. The occupational mobility is a noticeable phenomenon. The literacy rate is on increase and the educated gentry are involved in professions other than traditional agriculture. Many are

employed outside Garo Hills. Some of wealthy farmers, taking advantage of the official schemes. The multi-tier democratic political system has converted many into whole-timers in politics. The contractors constitute the wealthy class. The growth of population and markets inspired many to set themselves in business. Poultry and dairy farming and bee-keeping are also practiced.

BLOCK ADMINISTRATION The District of West Garo Hills comprises of 7 (Seven) Community and Rural Development (C&RD) Blocks. They are:

 Rongram C & R. D. Block  Dadenggre C & R. D. Block  Dalu C & R. D. Block  Selsella C & R. D. Block  Tikrikilla C & R. D. Block  Gambegre C & R. D. Block  Demdemma C & R. D. Block

 CIVIL SUB-DIVISION  There are two Civil-Sub Division in West Garo Hills district i.e., Dadenggiri Civil Sub-Division and Raksamgre Civil Subdivision.

 Dadenggiri Civil Sub-Division  Extra Assistant Commissioner  Raksamgre Civil Sub-Division

PLACES OF TOURIST INTEREST

Nokrek Biosphere Reserve The Nokrek National Park is about 45 kms via Asananggre and Sasatgre. But just about 2 kms from Tura Peak in West Garo Hills, provided you are an avid trekker. Nokrek is the highest peak in Garo Hills and has been declared a National Biosphere under the control and management of the state forests department. The peak is teeming with very rare plants and animals deep inside the thick jungle. The park is also home to a very rare species of citrus-indica which is endemic to this place which, the locals call me·mang narang, which when literally translated means the ‘orange of the spirits’. This discovery led to the establishment of the National Citrus Gene Sanctuary-cum- Biosphere Reserve at Nokrek which covers an area of about 47 sq.km.

Daribokgre Rural Tourism (Nokrek Biosphere Reserve) Local Inn Daribokgre is a rural hamlet located close to the world famous biosphere reserve of Nokrek at a height of approximately 1900m. The local community at Daribokgre has been greatly exposed to visitors and tourists, who flock the area and the community provides them with local food and accommodation in their villages for a minimal price. A comfortable three-and-a-half kilometre trek from Daribokgre village leads a visitor to Nokrek Peak.

Other Activities:

 visit to farming areas  visit to orange plantations  guide tour of the biosphere reserve at Nokrek  local tradition & culture  local brewery methods  view from watch tower & bamboo bridge

Distance of Tourist Destinations from Daribokgre: Tourist Destination Tourism Potential of the said Destination Distance Nokrek Biosphere Reserve Famous for Citrus Indica, wildlife like hoolock 3 kms Gibbon, leopard, python, pangolin, etc Selbalgre Hoolock Gibbon Sacred forests, Hoolock Gibbon, medicinal plants, 15 kms Reserve python, etc Rombhagre Fish Sanctuary Community protected pool of fish in river 18 kms Simsang assisted by IFAD, Tourism & District Administration Arabella Range Trekking to the summit 40 kms Rombhagre Ethnic Ethnic Accomodation run by local SGHs funded by 18 kms Tourism Project Forest Department Govt of Meghalaya Asanang 100 Drums The post harvest festival of 100 Drums Wangala is 20 kms Wangala Dance Venue held here annually during November Mandalgre Rural Village Local village famous for birds, elephant, trekking, 5 kms etc Rongbang Falls Waterfalls, Simsang River, etc 15 kms

Tura Peak A majestic hill stands on the eastern flank of Tura, the largest town in the Garo Hills region of the State. It peaks eight hundred and seventy two metres above sea level over looking Tura. Local legend has it that the peak provides a sacred abode for the Gods and claims that it was traditionally known as Dura but the British mistook it for Tura, before it came to be known as such. Since the Tura hill and its peak constitute the water catchments area of Tura town, the whole Tura-range has been declared as a reserve-forest. A Tourist Bungalow, an Observatory and a Cinchona plantation are located at Tura Peak and its environs. A magnificent view of the lower Brahmaputra Valley as well as the golden yellow plains of Bangladesh is available all year round to viewers on Tura Peak.

During the British regime, the Deputy Commissioner of Garo Hills, used to reside during summer, in a cottage located at the peak and commute down to Tura each day on elephant-back. A decent foot track developed for the Deputy Commissioner’s use is still in existence. It facilitates tourists and adventurers reaching Tura peak with ease and comfort.

Pelga Falls Pelga fall just located at the distance of 7 kms from Tura has become increasingly hot spot for anglers and picnickers in recent years. The tourism developed this place by constructing a footpath and view point. A typical traditional Garo bamboo bridge constructed over Ganol river is another added attraction.

Wadagokgre Any tourist who is interested in history can visit Wadagokgre which is one of the most interesting and attractive places in West Garo Hills. It is a place where an excavation was taken up by the pre-history branch of the Archeological Survey of India and proved that this was one of the biggest cities, a religious centre cast out of the Bramaputra river from the fourth century A.D. or even earlier. The excavation so far have clearly demonstrated that Wadagokgre was a sprawling township with Buddhism, Hinduism and amalgamation of the two being widely practiced in that area. The ancient township was located on the bank of the Bramaputra river which nearly 2000 years back was flowing nearby. The township was well-fortified and had a large number of tanks inside and on the other prestigious heights were located a number of burn bricks temple. Nearly 20 temple sites which have been there might have been palatial complexes and habitational areas for the population of the town. But the most interesting aspect of the survey report is that this is the only site where inside the entire fortified area including the habitational areas not a single bone was found. Wadagokgre is located at about 75 kms. from Tura. One PWD inspection bungalow is available at Bhaitbari at about 4 kms. distance from Wadagokgre.

Arbella Peak A lofty blue hill with an elevation of nine hundred and ninety nine metres above sea level stands on the north-eastern flank of Tura. The hilly range on which it is located is known as Arbella Range and the peak as Arbella Peak. The drive-up to the peak passes through deeply forested glades, full of shrubs and orchids of unparalleled beauty. Wildfowl and pheasants of exciting plumage and colour abound, besides birds of all sizes and variety making the place an idyllic resort of Natural joy. A small rest house built by the British Colonialist, a century ago, on the Arbella peak continues to provide visitors with the shelter from the elements.

Rongbang Dare If one believes that small is beautiful, then the tiny waterfall near Chinabat village to the right of the Tura-Asanangre-Williamnagar State highway is one to be taken into reckoning. This sprightly fall, though perennial, is at its best during the monsoon months. Clustered on either side by vast evergreen hills of bamboos, which sway rhythmically in the wind, the fall itself appears to be on the sway, leaving the viewer with memories of ecstatic joy.

Sasatgre

Located on the hilly crescent - like saddle, at the foot of the Nokrek peak, in the West Garo Hills district, Sasatgre village is accessible by a jeepable road from Oragitok village which lies on the Tura-Asanangre-Williamnagar State highway. The distinguishing feature of this village is that although all the houses are built in the typical Garo Pattern and design, they are spacious, airy, well- built and firm. The winds of development, change and prosperity have not changed the way of life of the Sasatgre villagers and they continue to be the repository of undiluted Garo custom, culture and convention. Sasatgre has been blessed by nature in so far as orange plantations are concerned and the village is surrounded by healthy, dark green orange bushes, which are highly productive. The village now falls on the periphery of the Nokrek Gene Sanctuary-cum-Biosphere Reserve.

Chibragre Lying in the junction of two rivers, the Ganol and Rongram is Chibragre, a picturesque place which is very popular among picnickers and anglers alike. The river Ganol originates from Nokrek Peak which flows steadily eastward teeming with fish and also believed to be the home of the mythological Sangkni and Na.nil or water serpents. The river has huge rocks that surround pools with deep caves and hollows underneath.

Rombagre Rombagre is situated at the distance of 35kms from Tura on the side of Williamnagar-Tura PWD Road. There is a beautiful water pool that has been preserved and protected by the local villagers in the Simsang River where schools of fish are found swimming in the clear waters turning the place virtually into a tourist spot as many travellers are often found enjoying the fish in the protected water pool. Besides, there are lovely picnic spots in and around Rombagre which attract many people from far and near for seasonal picnics every year.

Mande Burung (Jungle Man) If you are a believer in the mysterious then a trip to the Garo Hills can offer you some adventure. The Garos believe that an elusive Mande Burung or Jungle Man roams the forests of Garo Hills just like Bigfoot, Sasquatch, Yeti and others in different parts of the world. Documentation on this has been done on a large scale with recent visits of correspondents from The BBC news channel, History Channel (Monster Quest).

Kima Songa (Totems or memorial posts) Kima Songa is traditional Garo totems or memorial posts erected in honour of the dead members of a family done normally post funeral. These posts or totems are usually kept in front of the open space of a house. These posts are carved out in human forms representing the dead person and it is adorned with the dead person’s clothes and belongings. Kima Songa can be found in Typical Garo Villages.

Typical Garo Villages

1. Chidaogre Village, West Garo Hills 2. Sadolpara Village, West Garo Hills

3. Sasatgre Village, West Garo Hills

Local Bazar Days To get a feel and vibe of the local life and energy, a visit to a local bazaar held at different areas and villages on different days of the week is a definite must. One can shop and hunt for local artefacts, handloom products, local cuisine, vegetables, handicrafts, etc or one can just sit back at a local tea shop and gaze at the villagers haggling. These bazaars were the traditional places where people would buy and sell produce brought from different jhum (shifting cultivation) fields after a trek of six to seven days. One of the oldest bazar is Garobadha held every Tuesdays of the week. Some of these local bazaars worth a visit are

1. Garobadha Bazar- Tuesdays 30 kms from Tura town 2. Rongram Bazar- Fridays 14 kms form Tura town 3. Jengjal Bazar- Thursdays 35 kms form Tura town 4. Nazing Bazar- Saturdays 3 kms form Tura town 5. Kherapara Bazar- Wednesdays 25 kms form Tura town 6. Rongsak Bazar-Tuesdays 45 ms form Tura town 7. Babadam Bazar- Mondays kms form Tura town

Check for local buses and taxis or contact your hotel & TIC for details.

Asanangre Asananggre which is located at the distance of 20 kms. from Tura is a traditional place of the Garos where the Hundred Drums Wangala Festival is organized annually by the second week of November. Wangala is the most significant festival of the Garo Community which is associated with jhumming, a post harvest celebration that marks the end of the agriculture year. Above all and probably most importantly, it is considered to be an act of thanksgiving to Misi Saljong or the Sun God for the blessing of a rich harvest. The highlight of the festival is when 300 dancers and 100 drums descend on the field in all their splendour and hues making the festival a sight truly to behold.

Trekking in Garo Hills Trekking route from Tura (5-6 days)

1. From Tura Peak to Sakalgre, then to Dura Kalakgre- night halt at a local village house 2. At 7 am from Dura Kalakgre to Daribokgre Nok Achik, ‘lunch’ then proceed to Nokrek Biosphere Reserve, back to Daribokgre for night halt. 3. At 6 am from Daribokgre to Oragitok via Sasatgre, Chandigre, lunch at Oragitok then proceed to Arabella Range. Visit a traditional village like Watregre, Gondeggre, back to Arabella IB for halt. 4. At 7 am proceed to Waribokgre visit Songkalwari (fish sanctuary) back to Rongram Village

5. At 7 am proceed to Babadam visit traditional village like Tokitgre and then back to Tura via Dorenggre, Dopananggre, Asibra village.

Trekking route from Tura (4 Days)

1. At 7 am from Tura to Babadam via Chibragre, lunch at Babadam, then to Tokitgre traditional village explore then proceed to Boldakgre halt for the night. 2. At 7 am from Boldakgre proceed to Dabakgre traditional village, then further on to Mrongre, Makbilkolgre, then to Dokagre halt for the night. 3. At 7 am from Dokagre to Goragre via Balalgre then to Megonggre connecting main road at Harigoan. All these villages mentioned are still traditional and Non Christian, then towards Tura.

Travel & Tourist Facilities The Garo Hills attracted few tourists early days because of poor communication and lack of proper accommodation. However, after the inauguration of the State, steps to improve the facilities were taken up by the State Government through the department of Tourism. The department has set up one Tourist Information Centre at Tura. There are however areas where tourist facilities can be provided as the Garo Hills offers much scope for tourism with sanctuaries and other spots.

4. GEOLOGY OF WEST GARO HILLS DISTRICT

The West Garo Hills is situated in the western part of the Meghalaya Plateau which is supposed to be the continuation of Indian Peninsular Shield. Three distinct groups of rocks are observed in the Garo Hills. The basement consisting of gneisses, granitoids and related rocks, which from the Precambrian Gneissic Complex. The AMGC of the Proterozoic age occupies almost the entirety of the West Garo Hills district and is represented by migmatite/banded gneiss, augen gneiss biotite gneiss and unclassified gneiss. Mylliem granitoid is represented by pegmatite and quartz vein, gray and pink porphrytic granite. These are mainly found in the north western, western and some patches in the eastern part of the district. The rocks of Lower Gondwana are represented by feldspathic sandstone, carbonaceous shale, diamictite, phyllites, quartzite and conglomerate and occurs in the western part of the district. The Sylhet traps are represented by basaltic dyke occurring in the central and western part of the district. The Sung alkaline complex comprising of alkaline pyroxene, lamprophyre, trachite and dolerite dykes of the late cretaceous- Paleocene are also present. The rocks of the Jaintia Group is represented by arkose/gritty sandstone, coal, fireclay and shale of sylhet sandstone member which is overlain by fossiliferous limestone with shale and marble (sylhet lime stone member) which together constitutes the Shella formation. The Shella formation is overlain by Sandstone, siltstone, shale and phosphatic nodules of the Kopili formation. The Garo group of rocks is represented by three formations namely Simsang, Bhagmara and Changapara. Simsang is represented by felspathic sandstone, siltstone, mudstone and clay. Conglomerate, sandstone and siltstone constitutes the Baghmara formation which is overlain by coarse sandstone, siltstone, mudstone and marl belonging to the Changapara formation. The Garo

group is overlain by the undifferentiated Quaternary formation and is confined in the north western and south western part of the district. The Older alluvium of the Middle to late Pleistocene to Holocene is represented by Chapar and Sorbhog formations and is confined to the northernmost part of the district. The Newer Alluvium of Late Holocene represented by Barpeta-I and Barpeta II formation occurs in the western and north western part of the district.

RESOURCES AND POTENTIAL OCCURRENCES Thin bands of tertiary coal have been reported around Alathugiri and Abiselagiri from the sandstone. Kaynite has also been reported from the pegmatites south of Selsekgiri. Extensive occurrence of clay has been reported around Sambangiri and Damalgiri and is used in pottery industry, as abrasive and in construction work. Sylhet sandstone is white, friable, coarsed and saccharoidal and is used as glass sand. Best occurences forund near Damalgiri and north of Rongram. Basic rocks and granitoids are used as road material. The area applied is an uneven, hilly terrain with undulating topography' the highest contour of the area is 90m from mean sea level and lowest contour is 5O m from Mean Sea Level, Ganol River is flowing near about 18km away from the area. Regional Geologv- This part of Meghalaya exposes rock types that ranges from Basement Gneisses and intrusive granite that belongs to the Assam Meghalaya Gneissic Comples (AMGC) of Archaean(i')/ Protezoic age to sedimentaries of Tertiary age. In a Regional Scale the following is the stratigraphic sequence as noted in this part of West Garo Hills District of Meghalaya'

Age Group Formation member Rock types Quaternary to Alluvium Pebbles, Soil, Sand and recent Clay

Mid Miocene Garo Chengapara Loose poorly cemented to Oligocene micaceous, St, siltstone and clay Baghmara Conglomerate, feldspathic Set, mudstone, shale with fossilwood Palaeocene to Jaintia Kopili Sylhet Arqtllaceous Sediments Eocene Shella L. St Dominantly limestone Langpar Sylhet Ferruginous sandstone S,St Coarse S. St, sandy St, Calc shale

Jurassic UNCONFORMITY Basaltic flow, lamprophyre and

NON-CONFORMITY dolerite dykes and sills

Late Lower Karharbari Gritty to pebbly, coarse carboniferous Gondwana to very coarse to Permian Talchir medium to fine grained sandstone, light greenish grey siltstone and shale, conglomerates with greenish matrix Proterozoic & Assam Pegmatite, aplites and Archaean Meghalaya quartz vein, Gneissic granitites (Porphyritic Complex and grey)granite gneiss, biotite gneiss and hornblende gneiss/migmatites older meta sedimentaries. Table-l: summerised Regional Geological set-up around the block.

Basement Complex of AMGC: it is represented by migmatite, banded gneiss, amphibol gneiss, biotite gneiss with intrusive grey and pink homophaneous and porphyritic granite. The basement rocks have pervasive metamorphic foliation striking NW-SE direction dipping 500m towards NE and bears signatures affected by ductile shearing. Banded migmatite gneiss is of granitic composition and exhibit compositional bandings defined by leucosome and melanosome layers.The gneiss has undergone high grade metamorphism from upper amphibolites facies to granulite facies condition.

Dykes of ultrabasic and basic rocks occur as intrusive into the AMGC and the Gondwana Group, Most of the dykes trends along NW-SE direction and are exposed along the Baghmara- Singimari Road, Euhedral crystal of olivine and pyroxene are seen the dyke rocks. Pegmatite with coarse grained quartz and K-feldspar occur as veins and apophyses within the AMGC. Unique assemblage of Gondwana rocks represented by Talchir and Karharbari formation are exposed in the western part of the area, near Singimari (C.S.Fox, 1934). The Talchir Formation is represented by greenish glauconitic fine grained sandstone and Karharbari Formation is retresented by very coarse frained feldspathic sandstone. There are reports of coal-bearing horizons within the Gondwana sequence, for which GSI is actively carrying out exploration in the alluvial covers of the Brahmaputra River. AMGC at many places is capped by conglomerate horizon followed by sandstone and shale of the Jaintia Group, represented by the Sylhet/Tura Sandstone Formation followed upward by the Kopili Formations. The Garo Group is represented by Baghmara and Chengapara Formations and exposes erratically. The Tertiary sequence has gentle dip of 5'-10" towards SW striking NW-SE direction. Thin coal seams that are found within the Shella/Tura Sandstone formation are being mined locally at many places. Occurence of lignite from West Garo Hills District is being reported for the first time by GSl.

Local Geology Table-ll provides a glimpse of the Geology that is observed in the proposed mining

Table-ll: Local Geological set-up in the block

Age Group Rock types

Recent Weathered Gneiss and reddish soil (1-2 m)

Archaean and late- Proterozoic Assam-Meghalaya Banded Band gneiss, migmatite, with gneiss compesl basic Gneissic Comoles enclaves and with ic/homorpha neous granite

The region is intruded by basic and ultra basic intrusive and late tectonic granite plutons. In Garo Hiils the granite has been metamorphosed into granite gneiss. The lower gondwana rocks of permo-carboniferous age are recognised in the western and south western part of Garo hills, lt consists of pebble beds, sandstone (Tura) and carbonaceous shade. Recent alluvium is found in the western & south western part of Garo Hills along the foothills. This alluvium consists of fine silty sand and light to dark greyish shale & clay with pockets of coarse sand.

5. Drainage of Irrigation pattern:

6. LAND UTILIZATION PATTERN IN THE DISTRICT: FOREST, AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, MINING ETC

Forest Land use

Land Utilisation Statics for the year 2016-2019(Horticulture)

Sl Classification of land Name of the Development blocks No. 1 Area under Horticultural Dadenggre Dalu Gambegre Rongram Selsella Tikrikilla Demdema Total in the District crops 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 12295 13000 13000

Source: District Horticulture Officer, West Garo Hills, Tura.

8. PHYSIOGRAPHY OF THE DISTRICT:

Topography-The West Garo Hills district is mostly hilly with plains fringing the northern, western and the south-western borders. There are three important mountain ranges in the districts of Garo Hills.

Tura Range: This is one of the most important mountain ranges in the West Garo Hills. The Tura range is about 50 kms. long and extends in the east-west direction from Tura to Siju in the South Garo Hills district. The mountain peaks that are located in this range are Tura Peak, Nokrek Peak, Meminram Peak, Nengminjok Peak, Chitmang Peak The highest peak of this range is the Nokrek (1412 m.) lying 13 kms. south-east of Tura. To the west of the Tura range low hill ranges run from north to south, and to the north of the Tura range hill ranges run parallel to it, gradually increasing in height till they meet in the south. Now the entire Tura range comes under the management of Nokrek National Park. These high ranges are strictly protected as Catchment areas right from the time of British Administration in Garo Hills. There is no human habitation in the heart of these ranges which has now become an ideal home to various flora and fauna. Arbella Range: Arbella Peak is 999 metres high. It lies on the northern side of Asananggre village on the Tura Guwahati road. Most of the peaks in this mountain range fall in the East Garo Hills district. Ranggira Range: This mountain range lies on the western fringe of the district and ends in Hallidayganj. River Systems: The Tura range form watersheds in the West Garo Hills district, from which the rivers flows towards Bangladesh plains in the south and the Brahmaputra valley in the north and the west. The important rivers of the north group are the Kalu, Ringgi and the Didak. The important rivers of the southern group are the Bhogai, Dareng etc. The Tura range is also the source of the Simsang (Someswari), one of the major rivers of Meghalaya, whose valley is of the most important feature in the South Garo Hills. Jinjiram: It starts from Derek village and its main tributary starts from Upot Lake. It runs towards the east connecting with Gagua river, then runs through the border of Goalpara towards Phulbari and reaches Hallidayganj where it enters the Goalpara district. It is the longest river in the Garo Hills districts. Kalu: Locally this river is called Ganol. Its sources start from Tura peak and runs towards the west through Damalgre, Garobadha and Rangapani before it enters Goalpara district. Its chief tributaries are Dilni and Rongram rivers village. The height of this peak is 673 metres.

Didak: It stars from Anogre village and runs through Garo Hills district before it enters into Goalpara district. Rongai: Starts from Arabela peak and runs through Ringgegre village and then falls into Jinjiram river. Locally known as Ringge river.

9. RAINFALL: Statement of Rainfall, Temperature and Humidity

Year: 2017

Month Rainfall mm No. of days Humidity Temperature Max Min Max Min January 0 0 90 56 30 14 February 0 0 89 64 29 15 March 152.3 12 89 64 30 13 April 414.2 14 89 49 33 15 May 481 24 88 45 33 15 June 332.2 14 89 51 34 15 July 682 24 87 58 33 16 August 643.6 23 91 58 34 15 September 1111.6 19 88 56 34 17 October 565.4 14 89 52 34 16 November 0 0 89 55 33 15 December 2 2 89 68 29 15 Total 4384.5 146 91 45 34 13

Year: 2018

Month Rainfall mm No. of days Humidity Temperature Max Min Max Min January 0 0 91 71 28 13 February 10 1 92 64 29 10 March 61.7 2 83 63 30 13

April 161.3 10 86 65 31 13 May 383 17 90 61 39 19 June 297.6 10 90 69 39 19 July 131 8 90 70 39 19 August 81.5 6 90 70 39 18 September 107.8 7 90 60 39 18 October 6.0 1 82 52 32 17

November 27 1 80 59 30 18 December 0 0 80 50 30 17 Total 1265.9 63 92 50 39 10

Year: 2019

Month Rainfall mm No. of days Humidity Temperature Max Min Max Min January 0 0 88 50 34 16 47

February 5 1 85 51 30 11 March 0.0 0 87 53 30 16

April 132.6 9 89 60 38 17 May 290 17 90 59 33 16 June 294.8 9 91 70 39 17 July 339 12 91 70 42 17 August September October November December Total 1061.4 48 91 50 42 11

10. GEOLOGY AND MINERAL WEALTH: The West Garo Hills is situated in the western part of the Meghalaya Plateau which is supposed to be the continuation of Indian Peninsular Shield. Three distinct groups of rocks are observed in the Garo Hills. The basement consisting of gneisses, granitoids and related rocks, which from the Precambrian Gneissic Complex. The AMGC of the Proterozoic age occupies almost the entirety of the West Garo Hill district and is represented by migmatite/banded gneiss, augen gneiss biotite gneiss and unclassified gneiss. Mylliem granitoid is represented by pegmatite and quartz vein, gray and pink porphrytic granite. These are mainly found in the north western, western and some patches in the eastern part of the district. The rocks of Lower Gondwana are represented by feldspathic sandstone, carbonaceous shale, diamictite, phyllites, quartzite and conglomerate and occurs in the western part of the district. The sylhet traps are represented by basaltic dyke occurring in the central and western part of the district. The Sung alkaline complex comprising of alkaline pyroxene, lamprophyre, trachite and dolerite dykes of the late cretaceous- Paleocene are also present. The rocks of the Jaintia Group is represented by arkose/gritty sandstone, coal, fireclay and shale of sylhet sandstone member which is overlain by fossiliferous limestone with shale and marl (sylhet lime stone member) which together constitute the Shella formation. The Shella formation is overlain by Sandstone, siltstone, shale and phosphatic nodules of the Kopili formation. The Garo group of rocks is represented by three formations namely Simsang, Baghmara and Changapara. Simsang is represented by felspathic sandstone, siltstone, mudstone and clay. Conglomerate, sandstone and siltstone constitute the Baghmara formation which is overlain by coarse sandstone, siltstone,

48 mudstone and marl belonging to the Changapara formation. The Garo group is overlain by the undifferentiated Quaternary formation and is confined in the north western and south western of the district. The Older alluvium of the Middle to late Pleistocene to Holocene is represented by Chapar and Sorbhog formations and is confined to the northernmost part of the district. The Newer Alluvium of Late Holocene represented by Barpeta-I and Barpeta II formation occurs in the western and north western part of the district.

WEST GARO HILLS

Name of Minerals Location District GPS Coordinates Mode of Occurence Uses Requirement/Demand

Used in cement,glass making industry,used to neutralized acidity,as building material, manufacturing of iron,quicklime,slacked There is huge demand of lime.Used in toothpaste or Limestone of any grade in paints, as a reagent in flue-gas the state both in the desulphurization. Source of domestic requirements and Calcium in bread and outside the state since the Covering Dapgre West Garo 25°23'23.23"N cereals.Also used in medicines state share an international 1 Limestone area Hills District 90°17'35.71"E Layered Deposits. and cosmetics border with Bangladesh. West Garo 25°30'42.38"N Clay Tura Hills District 90°14'5.23"E Clay is used for making West Garo 25°35'38.31"N pottery, both utilitarian and Clay Rongram Hills District 90°15'6.33"E decorative and construction products such as bricks, wall 2 West Garo 25°29'28.88"N Bedded deposits Clay Nangalbibra Hills District 90°46'21.30"E and floor tiles. Suitable for West Garo 25°34'9.74"N ceramic and refractory Clay Rongkhandi Hills District 90°54'41.97"E purposes and for cement Industry West Garo Clay Jengianggiri Hills District

3 Quartz & West Garo 25°30'37.03"N Quartz is used as a gemstone Feldspar Tura Hills District 90°11'56.81"E Veins and dykes and cultured quartz is widely

used in electronic applications.Feldspar is widely used in making dinnerware and used as tiles.It is also used in glass production as a flux

Quartz & Bonsomgiri- West Garo Feldspar Rombhagiri Hills District West Garo 25°17'53.55"N Gypsum Mahendraganj Hills District 89°51'30.45"E Primarily used as a finish for walls and ceilings, wall board, sheet rock. Used in concrete blocks in building 4 construction. Also used as fertilizer and soil conditioner, adding hardness to water and portland cement. West Garo 25°35'35.58"N Gypsum Harigoan Hills District 90° 6'56.43"E Occurs as Veins

12. District wise detail of a river or stream and other sand source:

Sl No. Name of the river/stream Remarks 1. Jinjiram( Bordering Assam) Flows to Brahmaputra 2. Simsang Flows to Bangladesh 3. Ganol Flows to Jinjiram 4. Rongkhon Drain to Ganol 5. Galwang Flows to Jinjiram 6. Dilni Drain to Ganol 7. Bakla Drain to Bugai 8. Bugai Flows to Bangladesh 9. Gagua Flows to Jinjiram 10. Ringgi Flows to Jinjiram 11. Didram Flows to Goalpara 12. Singwil Drain to Ganol 13. Sanda Drain to Bugai 14. Diti Drain to Gagua

13.District wise availability of sand or gravel or aggregate resources:

Sl No. Name of the river/stream Availability of sand or gravel or aggregate

S-sand, G-gravel, A- aggregates

1. Jinjiram( Bordering Assam) S

2. Simsang G,A

3. Ganol G,A

4. Rongkhon A

5. Galwang S

6. Dilni S a) 7. Bakla S b) 8. Bugai S

9. Gagua S

10. Ringgi S,G,A

14. District wise detail of existing mining leases of sand and aggregates:

NIL

15. Drainage system with descriptions of Main River:

Sl Name of the River Area drained (sq. % area drained in Remarks No. km) the District 1 Simsang 2 Jinjiram 3 Ganol 4 Galwang 5 Bakla 6 Singwil 7 Sanda Data not available 8 Diti 9 Azagar 10 Sabang 11 Damring 12 Didram 13 Ringgi 14 Bugi

16.Salient features of Important Rivers and streams:

Sl. No Name of the River or Total Length in the Place of origin Altitude at Streams District (in Km) origin(m) 1 Simsang 34.1 Nokrek 1081 2 Jinjiram Not available Derek Village - 3 Ganol 41.2 Tura Peak 951 4 Galwang 54 Ranggira Range 377 5 Bakla 24.52 109 6 Singwil Not available 7 Sanda Not available 8 Diti 19.02 Watregre 571 9 Azagar Not available 10 Sabang Not available 11 Damring 27.33 Arbella Peak 622 12 Didram 4.97 Anogre Village 268 13 Ringgi 77.9 Arbella Range 784 14 Bugi 52 Southern side of 570 Nokrek 15 Gagua 49.62 408

Source: Garo Geography of Meghalaya – Samson K. Sangma

17. Table1: RIVER 1- GALWANG

Sl. Portion of the River or Length of the Average width Area Mineable mineral No. stream recommended area of area recommended for potential(in for Mineral Concession recommended recommended mineral concession metric tonne) for mineral for mineral (in square meter) (60% of total concession (in concessions(in mineral potential) Km) (approx) meters) 1. Mandagre/ Galwang 1.896(1896m) 23.76 45048.96 cum 60816.096 MT *2.25= 101360.16 (60%) 2. Rangtapara/ Galwang 1.507(1507m) 23.4 35263.8 cum 47606.13 MT *2.25=79343.55 (60%) Total 3.403 (3403) 47.16 180703.71 108422.226

Specific gravity- 2.25 Mineral potential

Boulder (MT) & Bajari (MT) (40%) Sand (MT)(60%) Total Mineable Mineral Potential (MT)(100%) 72281.484 108422.226 180703.71

Table 2: RIVER 2- DILNI

Sl. Portion of the River or Length of the Average width Area Mineable mineral No. stream recommended area of area recommended for potential(in for Mineral Concession recommended recommended mineral concession metric tonne) for mineral for mineral (in square meter) (60% of total concession (in concessions(in mineral potential) Km) (approx) meters) 2 Amindagre/Dilni 1.701(1701m) 23.38 39769.38 cum 53688.663 MT *2.25= 89481.105 (60%)

Specific gravity- 2.25

Mineral potential

Boulder (MT) & Bajari (MT) (40%) Sand (MT)(60%) Total Mineable Mineral Potential (MT)(100%) 35792.442 53688.663 MT 89481.105

Table 3: RIVER 3- BAKLA

Sl. Portion of the River or Length of the Average width Area Mineable mineral No. stream recommended area of area recommended for potential(in for Mineral Concession recommended recommended mineral concession metric tonne) for mineral for mineral (in square meter) (60% of total concession (in concessions(in mineral potential) Km) (approx) meters) 1. Josipara/Bakla-1 2.12 (2120 m) 28.44 60292.8 81395.28 MT cum*2.25= (60%) 135658.8 57

2. Kujikura-1/Bakla-2 3.30(3300m) 28.10 92730 cum 125185.5 MT *2.25=208642.5 (60%) 3. Kujikura-2/Bakla-3 0.679(679m) 24.79 16832.41 22723.7535 MT cum*2.25=37872.9 (60%) 225 Total 6.099 (6099) 81.33 382174.2225 229304.5335

Specific gravity- 2.25

Mineral potential

Boulder (MT) & Bajari (MT) (40%) Sand (MT)(60%) Total Mineable Mineral Potential (MT)(100%) 152869.689 229304.5335 382174.2225

Table 4: RIVER 4: BUGAI

Sl. Portion of the River or Length of the Average width Area Mineable mineral No. stream recommended area of area recommended for potential(in for Mineral Concession recommended recommended mineral concession metric tonne) for mineral for mineral (in square meter) (60% of total concession (in concessions(in mineral potential) Km) (approx) meters) 1. Kujikura/ Bugai-1 4.48(4480m) 55.85 250208 cum*2.25= 337780.8MT 562968.00 (60%) 2. Barengapara/Bugai-2 6.135(6135m) 69.905 428867.175 578970.68625MT cum*2.25= (60%) 964951.14375 Total 10.615 (10615) 125.755 1527919.144 916751.4862 Specific gravity- 2.25

Mineral potential

Boulder (MT) & Bajari (MT) (40%) Sand (MT)(60%) Total Mineable Mineral Potential (MT)(100%) 611167.6575 916751.4862 1527919.144

Table 5: RIVER 5: GAGUA

Sl. Portion of the River or Length of the Average width Area Mineable mineral No. stream recommended area of area recommended for potential(in for Mineral Concession recommended recommended mineral concession metric tonne) for mineral for mineral (in square meter) (60% of total concession (in concessions(in mineral potential) Km) (approx) meters) 1. Tikrikilla-1/Gagua-1 0.905 (905m) 28.01 25349.05 34221.2175MT cum*2.25=57035.3 (60%) 625 2. Tikrikilla-2/ Gagua-2 5.73(5730m) 41.95 240373.5 324504.225MT cum*2.25=540840. (60%) 375 Total 6.635 (6635) 69.96 597875.7375 358725.4425 Specific gravity- 2.25

Mineral potential

Boulder (MT) & Bajari (MT) (40%) Sand (MT)(60%) Total Mineable Mineral Potential (MT)(100%) 239150.295 358725.4425 597875.7375

Table 6: RIVER 6 - RINGGI

Sl. Portion of the River or Length of the Average width Area Mineable mineral No. stream recommended area of area recommended for potential(in for Mineral Concession recommended recommended mineral concession metric tonne) for mineral for mineral (in square meter) (60% of total concession (in concessions(in mineral potential) Km) (approx) meters) 1. Chibinang(Puskunipara) 2.5(2500m) 63.13 157825 cum*2.25= 213063.75MT / Ringgi 355106.25 (60%) Specific gravity- 2.25

Mineral potential

Boulder (MT) & Bajari (MT) (40%) Sand (MT)(60%) Total Mineable Mineral Potential (MT)(100%) 142042.5 213063.75MT 355106.25

18. Annual Deposition

Sl River or Portion of the river or Length of area Average width Area recommended for Mineable mineral No. stream stream recommended recommended of area for mineral concession potential (in metric for mineral concession for mineral recommended (in sq. metre) tons) (60% of total concession (in for mineral mineral potential) Km) (approx) concession (in metre) 1 Galwang Mandagre 1.896(1896m) 23.76 45048.96 cum *2.25= 60816.096 MT (60%) 101360.16 2 Galwang Rangtapara 1.507(1507m) 23.4 35263.8 cum 47606.13 MT (60%) *2.25=79343.55 3 Dilni Amindagre 1.701(1701m) 23.38 39769.38 cum 53688.663 MT (60%) *2.25= 89481.105 4 Bakla-1 Josipara 2.12 (2120 m) 28.44 60292.8 cum*2.25= 81395.28 MT (60%) 135658.8 5 Bakla-2 Kujikura-1 3.30(3300m) 28.10 92730 cum 125185.5 MT (60%) *2.25=208642.5 6 Bakla-3 Kujikura-2 0.679(679m) 24.79 16832.41 22723.7535 MT (60%) cum*2.25=37872.9225 7 Bugai-1 Kujikura 4.48(4480m) 55.85 250208 cum*2.25= 337780.8MT (60%) 562968.00 8 Bugai-2 Barengapara 6.135(6135m) 69.905 428867.175 cum*2.25= 578970.68625MT 964951.14375 (60%) 9 Gagua-1 Tikrikilla-1 0.905 (905m) 28.01 25349.05 34221.2175MT (60%) cum*2.25=57035.3625

10 Gagua-2 Tikrikilla-2 5.73(5730m) 41.95 240373.5 324504.225MT (60%) cum*2.25=540840.375 11 Ringgi Chibinang(Puskunipara) 2.5(2500m) 63.13 157825 cum*2.25= 213063.75MT (60%) 355106.25

19. SATTELITE MAPS: