CHAPTER NO: 2 PROFILE STUDY OF AREA 15 CHAPTER NO: 2 PROFILE STUDY OF AREA 2.1 Introduction: Pune is also called ‘The Oxford of the east’ as Pune attracts students from every nook and corner of the world. Foreign students find Pune very peaceful and safe as compared to other educational cities in India. The weather of Pune is also very good for health. The natural resources of any region are considered of vital importance for the economic development. Hence, it is necessary to explore the potential in term of economic and social aspects. Land is the basic resource of human society. Its utilization shows a common relationship between ecological conditions of a region and man. The varied nature, namely, climate, soil, transportation, occupational structure, population, vegetation, water etc. have provided scope for further development. It is therefore, necessary to evaluate a spatio-temporal analysis of agricultural land use and productivity in Pune district. Physiography in most part of the district is plain except for a few hills and small ranges. City at Glance: Particular Description 1. Name Pune 2. State Maharashtra 3. Language Marathi (Main), Hindi & English 4. Share Borders North east Ahmednagar, West Colaba, North west Thane, South east Solapur, South Satara 5. Latitude 180 31’N, 730 51’ E 6. Altitude 559 meters 7. Geographical Location Foothills of Sahyadri Mountains 8. Average Temperature Summer 22 to 41 Degree Celsius , Winter 8 to 25 Degree Celsius , Rainfall 650 to 700 mm 9. Population 6,15,431 (2011) 10. Area 700 km square (270 Sq. mi) 11. Literacy 71% Population literate 12. Rivers Main river Bhīma 16 2.2 Location sites and situation: Pune district is located between 17 degrees 54' and 10 degrees 24' North latitude and 73 degrees19' and 75 degrees 10' East longitude. The district has geographical area of 15.642sq.km. Pune district is bound by Ahmednagar district on north-east, Solapur district on the south-east, Satara district on south, Raigad district on the west and Thane district on the north-west. It is the second largest district in the state and covers 5.10% of the total geographical area of the state. The landscape of Pune district is distributed triangularly in western Maharashtra at the foothills of the Sahyadri Mountains and is divided into three parts: "Ghatmatha", "Maval" and "Desh". Pune district forms a part of the tropical monsoon land and therefore shows a significant seasonal variation in temperature as well as rainfall conditions. Climate of the western region of Pune is cool whereas the eastern part is hot and dry. Pune district consists of 14 Taluka and 1866 villages and havingtotal 72, 32,555 populations in 2001 census and 94,26,959 populations in 2011. The fourteen Taluka in study region are, namely, Junnar, Ambegaon, Khed, Maval, Mulshi,Velhe, Bhor, Haveli, Purandar, Pune City, Indapur, Daund, Baramati and Shirur. The population density is 13603 persons per sq. kilometer in 2011 Census. The sex ratio is 910 and literacy rate is 87.19 percent in study region in 2011. Jurisdictional changes during 2011: Name of No. of villages as per No. of Towns as District/Tahsil 2011 Per 2011 Pune District 1878 35 Junnar 183 1 Ambegaon 143 1 Shirur 115 3 Khed 186 6 Maval 187 5 Mulshi 145 2 Haveli 123 5 Pune city 1 3 Daund 102 2 Purandar 108 3 17 Velhe 130 - Bhor 195 1 Baramati 117 2 Indapur 143 1 (Source: Census book 2011) For administrative purposes the district is divided into 5 sub-divisions of Pune, Maval, Baramati, Junnar, and Bhor. Pune sub-division includes Pune City and Haveli tehsils, Mavalsub-division includes Maval, Shirur and Mulshi tehsils, Baramati sub-division includes Baramati, Indapur and Daund tehsils, Junnar sub- division includes Junnar, Ambegaon and Khed tehsils and Bhor sub-division includes Bhor, Purandar and Velhe tehsils. The district collector along with the district Judge, Superintendent of police, chief executive officer of Zilla- Parishad and other senior officers of the State Government look after the development and regulatory functions in the district. At Tahsil level, the Tahsildar, Block Development officer, Judicial Magistrate, Deputy Engineers and other officers look after their respective departments for development and regulatory functions. 2.3 Other basic information about study area: A) Geology: The study region consists of multiple layers of solidified fluid basalt and is more than 2,000 meters thick and formed in between 60 to 68 million years ago during the Cretaceous period. The basaltic lava flows is estimated to be around 5,12,000 square kilometers. The plateau after the catastrophic phase of faulting has remained relatively stable and has undergone a succession of cycles of erosion. The region has basaltic base on which there are alluvial deposits in river valleys on the terraces and an old flood plain. Fault lines are scattered throughout the study region and these areas are minor earthquake prone. B) Physiography: Pune district covers 15,642 square kilometers area, Sahyadri mountain range lies from north to south in west part in study region and crest line acts as a main water divide of peninsular rivers. There are three main mountainous ranges, namely, Harishchandra range, Jeevdhan range and Dhak-Ahupe range. In south, Saswad plateau lies in between Bhīma basin in north and Neera basin in south and then it 18 extends towards east. South of Harishchandra range,the Kalsubairange lies in south, then Mandavi range and Tamhini range followed by Saswad plateau indicates two regions of above 900 meters high. One lies in north i.e. Harishchandra and another is Jeevdhan range. The height in west part in study region is above 1200 meters and it lowers towards east (450 meters). Thecentral and west parts have elevation from 600 to 1200 meters. The slope is towards southeast in study region. The central and east parts show elevation between 450 to 600 meters lying from east to west. One zone lies between Kalsubai range and Saswad plateau and east part and south part of Saswad plateau. The overall slope is 800 meters from northwest to southeast direction in study region. C) Drainage: Pune district is well drained by Bhima, Kukdi, Ghod, Indrayani, Mula, Mutha and Nira rivers. Bhima River originates near Bhimashankar in north part in study region. The major tributaries of Bhima River are Kukdi, Meena, Ghod, Vel, Bhima, Indrayani, Mula, Mutha, Karha and Nira. The north boundary of study region is confined by Bhima River and south boundary is confined by Nira River. Later on, Bhima River joins to Krishna River. During rainy season, these rivers flow with ample water and during dry season water shrinks in narrow channel. The eastern part in study region has found broad valley. Most of these rivers have found terraces and alluvialdepositions along the flood plains such land is fertile. The study regionhas Bhushi, Lonavla, Pavna, Valvan, Tungarli, Andhra and Shirawta Lake. The dams constructed across the rivers are, namely, Pimpalgaon (Pushpavati), Manikdoh, Yedgaon (Kukadi), Meena (Meena), Dimbe (Ghod), Chas-Kaman and Ujani (Bhima), Andhra (Andhra), Valvhan (Indrayani), Pavna (Pavna), Mulshi (Mutha), Temghar, Khadakwasla (Mutha), Varasgaon (Ambi), Panshet (Mose), Chapet (Kanandi),Bhatgar (Velvandi), Devghar, Veer (Neera). There are long canal constructed along the river banks to its right and left such as Mula-Mutha canals, Nira canals etc. This facilitates farmers to change their traditional land use pattern in study region. D) Climate: Talukas having low rainfall are Shirur, Daund, Indapur and Baramati (450 to 600 millimeters). Daund Taluka has found lowest rainfall (460 millimeters) followed by Baramati (500), Indapur (502) and Shirur (512). Due to heavy rainfall during rainy season, landslide occurs in Ambegaon, Junnar and Mulshi Taluka in 19 study region. In study region summers are dry and hot and it begins from early March to June. The temperature ranges from 100to 380 centigrade and it reaches to 400 centigrade in May.May is the hottest month in study region. The west part in study region in Junnar, Ambegaon, Khed, Maval, Mulshi and Velhe Taluka experience moderately cool climate and Shirur, Daund, Baramati and Indapur Taluka experience hot and dry climate. Winter season commences from November and lasts up to February. Temperature during winter season drops down up to 10ºCto 12ºC centigrade. Humidity is low during the summer months as it increases evaporation losses from the atmosphere. It reaches lowest up to 50 percent in summer. The diurnal variation in humidity during this period is high and water vapor gets condensed due to falling night time temperature and daytime it finds high. During rainy season, it is usually high and it reaches up to 88 percent. E) Natural Vegetation: Irregular and uneven rainfall in the study area exerts influence on vegetation. The natures of soil and climatic condition have a direct impact on the growth of vegetation. Forest in 1991 was 4 percent and it declined to 3.57 percent in 2010. The total decline is 0.43percent. It is also observed that the villages of Vadhane, Dandevadi, Supe, Sablewadi, Paravadi, Gadikhelwadi, Undawadi Kade Pathar, Korhale Bk., Deulwadi villages have 4 to 8 percent forest. This area is owned by the Forest Department therefore, trees and forest have been preserved. The natural vegetation is mainly of low scattered trees occurring along the border of the study area. The hot and dry climate has resulted mixed thorny trees, stunted grass and scanty vegetation. Trees like Mango (Magnifera India), Jambhul (Syzygium Cummi), Neem (Azadiracta India), Babhul (Accacia Arabica), Bor (Zizaphus Jujubal), Chinch (Tamaridus India), are obtained scantily throughout the study region. Shrubs like Ghaneri (Lantena), Tarwad (Casia Cuviculata), Rui (Caletropus Gigatio), and Ghayapat (Agave Sissatana) are associated with culturable waste lands.