CHAPTER-IV PROFILE OF THE STUDY AREA Present chapter deals with the profile of physical and socio-economic aspect of Daund Tahsil, namely physiography, drainage, climate, soils, vegetation, agriculture, irrigation, transportation.The study region is flat surface of 1289.86 Sq.Km.(128986 hector) aera covering 103 villages with one urban centre Daund. The river Bhima and its tributaries are major flow of Daund Tahsil. Along the south side of the river Bhima has fertile soils hence it is agriculturally well developed. Climatically this region belongs to semi -arid tract where months May and June have maximum temperature of 40 °C. Monsoon rainfall is prime source of this region, 600 mm rainfall during monsoon season.The rainfall amount declines sharply on westward and is responsible for evolution of landscape. Region has different soil types and holding varied moistures to produce agriculture goods. The region occupies less than 9.14 percent forest area of deciduous trees that found scattered grown in Daund tahsil. This region is predominance of agriculture in nature where Jawar, Bajra & Sugarcane are cultivated besides vegetables are produced in this region. Here is significant to note that study region accounting 35.5 % irrigated land which is mainly used for sugarcane. According to 2011 Census the region has 3,41,388 population consisting of 87.37 % rural and 12.63 % urban population. It is observed that 66.93 % population is engaged in agricultural activities.This region accrosses the national highway, state highway, major district roads, other district roads and village roads. Daund lies on railway junction and state highway. 1. PHYSIOGRAPHY: The study region lies in Pune district. It is part of Deccan plateau belongs to upper Bhima basin. The average height of study area is 554 metres from mean sea level. East -West distance is 75 Km. and 45 Km. wide covering an area of 1289.86 Sq. Km. (128986 ha.). The direction of slope is eastwards. The region is made up of sedimentary deposition. The entire area is nearly flat with less variations. The rainfall amount declines sharply eastwards away from the Crestline and is responsible for evolution of landscape.(Map-5) 11 Map-1 Geographical location of Pune District in Maharashtra State and Daund Tahsil Pune district. DAUND TAHSIL LOCATION MAP INDIA |-19°30' 0 600 MAHARASHTRA MAHARASHTRA N •"O 200 I I Kms ^^ Study Area District Boundary Taluka Boundary (§) District IHeadquarter H7°30' • Taluka Headquarter 0 16 32 48 Kms 1 I I I 73''30' 74°00' 74°30' 75°00' 12 2. DRAINAGE: The river Bhima and its tributaries Mula-Mutha are dominating the drainage pattern of study region. Bhima is major river flows toward east in Daund taluka. The river Bhima origninates from Bhimashankar in Pune district. The river course of Mula-Mutha joins Bhima river near Delvadi village in Northwest comer of the Daund tahsil. Total length of river Bhima is 123 km and length of Mula-Mutha is 29 km in study area. Bhima and Mula-Mutha flow with magnificent volume of water during rainy season and shrinks into narrow streams during the hot season. 32 villages are located along the Bhima River in study region.The Victoria at Varvand, Kasurdi, Matoba and Gupteshar lakes are comes under the study area. (Map-2) 3. CLIMATE: Climate is a major determent of climatic condition in Daund taluka and experiences semi-arid climate. May and June are the hottest months with a mean maximum temperature 40 "C. Temperature reduces in December and January with a mean minimum temperature of 12 °C. The winter season commences from November upto February whereas rainy season is observed from June to October and summer from March to May. The region receives rainfall from southwest monsoon and it commences from June. The average annual rainfall in Daund taluka is in between 500 to 600 mms of which 60 percent is received during June, July, August and September months. June receives highest rainfall followed by July, August and September. The climate of January to April is comparatively dry. The relative humidity is high in July, August and September. In March, April and May the evaportaiton rate is high. Winds are generally found with high force during the summer.(Graph-1 & 2) 13 Map-2 Drainage of Daund Tahasil 14 L/l Legend National Highway State Highway Village Road ' Railway Line Narrow Guage 1 Railway Line Broad Guage GO O O 2 o Legend 0 20 Km L. I Coarse Shallow Soil Deep Black Soil Medium Black Soil IS o" CTQ o • 1/3 Legend N Height in Meters I <550 651-700 551-600 >700 0 20 Km L_ I 601-650 Map - 6 Density of Population of Daund Tahasil 18 4. SOILS: Three types of soil are in study region, namely, light brown shallow, medium deep and deep black soils. The black soil is commenly found with layers of one to five feet deep and it covered large portion of cultivated area. Black soil lies in some of the villages which are located on the Mula-Mutha right bank canal. This soil contains high moisture holding capacity with calcium carbonate in varying proportions and is suitable for cultivation.(Map-4) 5. TRANSPORTATION: The road transport and railway transport is important transports in Daund Taluka.(Map-3) (I) ROAD TRANSPORTATION: The road transport plays an important role in origin of various developmental acivities. The study region has following routes, namely, (i) National and State Highway (ii) Major District Roads (iii) Other District Roads (iv) Village Roads. (i) National and State Highway: The national highway runs through Daund Tahsil (Pune - Solapur N.H.-9) with length of 72 km. while state highway are main roads and are generally connected to the national highway.They also connect district headquarters and important cities.The total length of state highway in study area is 88 km. Four state highways namely, Saswad -Shirur state highway (S.H. /63) with a length of 21 km. Supe-Shirur state highway of 24 km. length (S.H./64).Baramati - Ahmednagar state highway (S.H. /lO) with a length of 23 km. Patas- Daund state highway (S.H. 161) with a lenth of 15 km. in study region. It is significant that the developmental activity like widening of National Highway No.-9, and other state highway are going on in which considerable land with green trees are occupied. 19 (ii) Major District Roads, Other District Roads and Village Roads: Major district roads in Daund tahsil has 137 km. length and are connect the areas of agriculture produces with highways and railways. These roads provide hauling services in rural areas. Other District roads link with major District roads. National and state highway, in Daund Tahsil. The total length of other District road is 156.4 kms. in study region. Village roads connect villages with major District roads and other District roads. Length of village roads in study region is 198.8 kms. (II) RAILWAY TRANSPORT: Railway is important transport in Daund tahsil. Total length of broad gauge and meter gauge railway lines is 87.6 kms. Pune-Solapur broad gauge has 73.6 kms. and Daund- Baramati meter gauge railway has 14 kms. in study area. Daund is major Indian railway junction in study area.The National Highway runs through Daund Taluka (Pune - Solapur NH-9) with railway junction in study region. 6. AGRICULTURE: Agriculture is predominant in Daund tahsil and it provides livelihood to 66.93 % population. Sugarcane is one of the important cash crops in Daund tahsil. The area under sugarcane cultivation in study region is increased with increasing irrigation facilities. The agriculture operation of this crop requires more care and capital than other important crops like Jowar, Bajara and Onion. But, the area under these crops cultivation in Daund tahsil is declined with area extention under sugarcane crop. The farmers are generally reluctact in cultivation of pulses, grams and vegetables.Therefore the acerage under above crops is declined largly in study area. The agriculture of Daund tahsil is entirely depended on amount of rainfall receives in kharif and rabbi season. Total area under cultivation is 103844.94 hactares in Daund tahsil. 20 7. IRRIGATION: The main source of irrigation in study area is canal irrigation besides wells, tanks, and ponds. Victoria tank at Varvand is major tank and it supplies water to Varvand and Patas villages. Lift irrigation is available along south bank of Bhima River. Villages lying on riverside irrigate land with the help of Pump sets which used for drinking and cultivation land. Irrigation through exploitation of ground water in the area is high. Some irrigated areas lie along the riverside. The irrigated land in study region is 37968.65 hactares acconting 35.55 %. 8. POPULATION AND OCCUPATIONAL PATTERN: According to the Census 2011 the study area has 3, 41,388 population, out of which 177144 male and 164244 females and density of population is 1.90 percent per hectare.The study region recorded 87.37 % rural and 12.63 % urban population. It is observed that 66.93 % population is engaged in agricultural activities. (Map-6) Table I: Total area of Daund Tahasil Table I Sr. No. Details Area in Hector Percentage 1 Total cultivable area 110499.00 88.66 2 Total Forest Area 4904.00 3.80 Total Area Under Gairan 3 2728.00 2.11 Reserve for Cattle Fodder 4 Total Uncultivable Land 2662.00 2.83 5 Villages, Road, Rivers, 7193.00 5.57 Total 128986.00 100.00 Data collected from Tahasil Office Daund in 2010-2011 21 Table II: Length of Road and Railway in Daund Tahsil Sr.