MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Location: file:///C:/1072AED9/INTRODUCTIONTODURGCITY.htm Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" INTRODUCTION TO DURG CITY

INTRODUCTION TO DURG CITY

 

Durg is one of the populo= us districts of Chhattisgarh state, which occupies the southwestern part of the Chhattisgarh plain and possesses belts of hilly country in the south, south= west and northwest, with various mineral resources and forests. Before formation= of Chhattisgarh state the district lied in the Raipur Commissioner’s Rev= enue Division extending between the latitudes 200 23’N and 220 02’N and the longitudes 80048’E and 81057’E. The Altitude of the district is 317 Meters from Sea level. The area occupie= d by the district is 8537 Sq. Kms while the population of the district is 239713= 4 as per 1991.

 

The District head-quarter= derives its town name of Durg, from one of the Garhs. The origin name was Shiva Dur= g.

 

Durg, the district headqu= arter town is located on Great E= astern Road, the National Highway No. 6 and also on Bombay Howrah Broad-guage Line of South Eastern Railway. It is on the easte= rn side of the Bhilai Steel Town of India and therefore, enjoys all locational advantages of Bhilai in respect of road, rail and air services available in= the region.

 

Physiography

 

The District occupies the Southwestern part of the Upper Shivnath-Mahanadi valley and the bordering h= ills in the south and southwest. Physiographically, the District can be divided = into two divisions, viz. the Chhattisgarh plain and the Southern plateau. The Chhattisgarh plain occupies the largest area in the District.

 

Drainage

 

The general slope of the = district is towards the North and North East and locally in some places towards east= . Shivnath and Kharun rivers contribute the most in the drainage system in the distric= t. All the small rivulets and rivers are the tributaries either of Shivnath ri= ver or Kharun river. Shivnath river flows nearer to the western border of the district whereas river Kharun forms the eastern border of the district which ultimately joins Shivnath river. The river Shivnath itself forms the part of big Mahanadi basin.

 

Communication

 

The District is well interconnected by roads. The National Highway No. 6 traversing the district= is the Mumbai-Calcutta G.E., road. Other important roads in the district are Durg-Dhamdha-Bemetara road. Kawardha-bemetara-Simga Road, Kumhari-Patharia Road, Rajnandgaon-Antagarh Road. Durg-Utai road etc.

 

Durg town is favorable si= tuated on the main line of the South Eastern Railway midway between Mumbai-Calcutt= a. The main railway line cuts across the District at its narrowest with the to= tal length of the line being only 17 Kms. There is also branch line from Durg to Dalli-Rajahara for transport of iron ore. Nearest airport from the District Headquarter Durg is the Mana (= Raipur) about 50 Kms.

 

Climate

 

The climate of district is moderate, but on a warmer side in summer season. In summer the temperature = goes to a maximum of 43-45 degrees Celsius. In winter the minimum temperature fa= lls upto 12 degree Celsius. Average yearly rain fall is around 1024mm.

 

Economic Condition<= /b>

 

Durg comes under the basi= n region of Shivnath and Mahanadi<= /st1:PlaceName> River. Durg is the = one of the main district of the Chhattisgarh region which is known as “DHAN = KA KATORA”. The soil here is very fertile specially for the rice product= ion. Main crops of the district are rice, wheat, jowar, etc. Agriculture is the = main source of Income for majority of villagers.

 

Durg is also rich in mine= ral deposits. Main mineral deposits are Iron Ore, Limestone, Dolomite, Quartzite, Runner sand, White Clay and Soap Stone. Other minor minerals are Clay, sand, Stone, Flag Stone and Murum. Many industries are based on basic mines such as steel and cement product which are running in the district, t= his gives a substantial part of mine revenue to the state Government.

 

Planning Area

 

The Government of Madhya = Pradesh, Housing and Environment Department have constituted and notified. Special A= rea for Bhilai-Durg under clause (a) of sub section (3) of section 64 of Madhya Pradesh Nagar Tatha Gram Nivesh Adhiniyam, 1973 vide no. 326/4021/XXXII/76 = Bhopal, dated 10-= 9-1976. As per this notification, it includes the area notified as Durg Planning Ar= ea under Sub section (1) of section 13 of Madhya Pradesh Nagar Tatha Gram Nive= sh Adhiniyam, 1973 (No. 23 of 1973) vide no. 773/F/23/XXIII/74/Bhopal dated 5.3.7\1974. The Development Plan of Durg-Bhilai Part-I (Bhilai) has been prepared and published earlier. The limits as defined in schedule given bel= ow are now covered, for the purpose of preparation of Development plan of Durg-Bhilai Vol II.

 

North   :   &= nbsp;       Baghera, Urla and Sicola up to the northern limits of Katulbod.

West    :  &= nbsp;        Pulgaon, existing municipal limit of Durg and up to the western Limits of Baghera.

South   :   &= nbsp;       Borsi, Potia and upto the Southern limit of Pulgaon.

East      :&= nbsp;          Katulbod, existing municipal limit of Durg, Potia and up to the Eastern limit of Bors= i.

 

The growth and expansion = of urban settlement always influence the surrounding villages. It also sets trend of urbanization and ultimately give rise to an unplanned development. In order= to have effective control over unplanned development activities and to check creation of chaotic conditions in and around the existing town. The total a= rea covered within the Planning Area is nearly 5094 ha.

 

S.No.

Name of Village Settlement<= /p>

Area in hectares

1

2

3

1

= Durg Town

2,009

2

Urla OG

590

3

Baghera OG

440

4

Pulgaon

617

5

Potia

781

6

Borsi OG

443

7

Katulbod OG

215

Total Planning Area<= o:p>

5,094

 

 

 

Municipal Corporation Area=

 

The total area included i= n the limits of the Municipal Corporation Durg is 5,094 hectares as per the gazet= te notification.

 

Developed Area<= /p>

 

All isolated as well as continuous patches of developed land situated within the Planning area alre= ady put to various urban uses, are included in the “Developed Area”. This, however, excludes water bodies, agricultural and vacant land. The developed area of the town has been studied to work out town density and to= determine intensity of use of land for urban purpose.

 =

Regional Linkages and Importance

 

Durg has got a significant location amongst all the ci= ties and towns of Bhilai Region. Durg is playing an important role in the region= as a center of trade and commence due to prevailing advantages of good economic linkages.

 

The town and its surrounding villages of the region ha= ve predominance of paddy cultivation. With a network of irrigation canals developed through various Tank irrigation project, and other minor irrigati= on schemes, the region has got good sources of irrigation in the area. Due to these developments there will be a corresponding increase in the marketable surplus which will give good impetus to trade and commerce in the region and Durg being the second important town in the region, it will have to bear maximum burden of these increasing trade and commerce activities.

 

Timber, fire wood, bamboos and tendu leaves are the principal forest products in the district which is exported out side the region. However, other consumable goods namely oil seeds, lakh drugs and medicines are imported from out side the region.

 

After commissioning of Bhilai Steel Plant, it had infl= uenced to a great extent the socio-economic conditions and industrial pattern of t= he region. During the process of establishment of this project and its proposed expansion a large number industries have come up in and around the town.

 

Physical Features

Topography=

 

Durg is situated on plain Plateau however, the central= part of the town has slightly a higher level. Shivnath the largest tributary of = Mahanadi River is really a boon to the life= of this town which is flowing close to the western boundary of the town. It originates from the hills of Panabaras Zamindari and flows from south to the north through Ambagarh Chowki. Besides this river, twenty six Physical feat= ure in which Utai, Harnabandha and Sahara Bandha are the major tanks in the tow= n. The water of Utai tank is utilized for irrigation purposes in the surroundi= ng areas of the town.

 

Natural Drainage

 

Major part of the City does not have any properly deve= loped drainage facility. Water from the residential localities flows through the Kutcha open drains and nallas which ultimate joins Harnabandha major nallah flowing through residential areas of the city lying in between Railway line= and G.E. Road.

 

In southern part of the Durg city, potia nallah flows through East-West direction and ultimately joins the river shivnath near ov= er bridge on G.E. Road at Pulgaon Naka.

 

Devastating floods are the usual occurrence in south w= est part of the city causing damage to the life and property, affecting worstly= the southern part of the town. This ia mainly due to back water of Shivnath River in Potial nallah. It is obse= rved that due to these floods there is practically no development in that part of the town which has forced development in North, South-East and the part of South-West of the city.

 

Historical Background

 

Durg the name itself suggested that it might have been= a well fortified place of some consequence of historical change in Southern Kosala.

 

The town appears to have been founded about the 10th century A.D. by one Jagpal, who came from Badhaldesh in Mirzapur and became officer of the treasury of Ratan Deo the Raja of Ratanpur. The Raja being pleased with Jagpal’s meritorious services and gave him Durg with 700 villages as a reward. In one inscription, now preserved at the Rajput Museum, mention is made of Sivapur and Sivadurga in association with a king named Sivadeva. It is quite likely that the name Sivadurga of Seodurg derived from the Shivnath (river) which gradually shortened into Durg. The Marathas made Durg the base of their operations in Chhattisgarh in 1741 when they actually over run Chhattisgarh region. Besides conquering the fort they formed an en= trenched camp on a high attitude on which the existing town stands and gives a bird’s eye view of the surrounding.

 

A Small headless figure of Buddha and numerous stone foot-stools resembling Buddha period sculptures are found here. A temple of Hanuman said to be constructed by = Jagpal is situated inside the fort.

 

The city has one large tank known as Harpa-Dandhe is s= aid to have been excavated overnight by 9 lakh and the Tunka-Jharoni mound near the railway station was created during the operation by the waste earth from th= eir baskets.

 

After establishment of Bhilai Steel Plant the city has become the most important industrial center of Chhattisgarh. This will not = only provide good employment opportunities in Steel Plant but will certainly give further push to activities in other sectors of economy. This clearly reflec= ts that there are bright prospects for encouraging economic activities at Durg= .

 

Special Features

 

Amongst most important monumental building “Hind Edward Memorial Hall” is the only historical building in Durg town wh= ich was established in 1855. It is located on G.E. Road adjacent to Dist. Hospital.

 

Shri Ram Temple

 

Shri Ram Mandir near Railway Station by the said of Am= di, Dharmshalla, Ram Mandir in Gandhi Chowk, and Hanuman Mandir inside fort is = the important religious places in the town.